670 rural electrification projects to be vested on the public in view of the anniversary of the president’s assumption of office

In celebration of the birth anniversary and the anniversary of the assumption of office as the president, measures have been taken on the instructions
of the Minister of Power and energy Attorney pavithra Wanniarachchi, to complete and vest on the people 670 rural electrification projects throughout the
country that are nearing completion. The government has invested Rs. 3,620 million for the completion of these electrification projects.

Accordingly 89 rural electrification projects in the Northern province, 46 rural electrification projects in the Western province, 96 rural electrification projects in
the Eastern province, 63 rural electrification projects in the Uva province, 99 rural electrification projects in the Southern province, 153 rural electrification
projects in the Central province, 124 rural electrification projects in the Sabaragamuwa province will be vested in the people.

With the completion of these rural electrification projects another 10,050 households will receive electricity connections across the country through the
national grid.

On the instructions of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa a policy decision has been taken to provide electricity to the whole country by the
end of 2014. Accordingly a survey of all households including the rural and most remote areas has commenced to ascertain the number of households
still without electricity. Currently there are 5,591,292 electricity consumers in the country while 31.87 GWH of power is required daily to meet the demand of
these electricity consumers. Moreover in order to meet the increasing demand in electricity with the construction of new commercial and residential
buildings, around 300 MW of power is required to be added on to the national grid.

Accordingly another 300 MW of power will be added to the national grid with the completion of the second stage of the Norochcholai coal power plant by
December, and a further 300 MW with the completion of the third stage by next year. With the signing of agreements for the completion of the
Sampoor coal power plant, a further 500MW of power will be added onto the national grid, enabling the country to face the power requirement of the
country successfully. Meanwhile the country’s attention has also been focused on natural gas power generation as well, in order to meet the growing
power requirements of the future.