Karu
opens what Anu opened
By Shelani Perera
Plans by the Ceylon Electricity Board to ceremonially commission
two power stations that have already been commissioned have been
hit by a bolt of criticism over the staggering cost of the ceremonies.
The Sunday
Times learns that the ceremonies to commission the projects at Kelanitissa
and Veyangoda would cost about two million rupees including expenses
for colour washing, commemorative plaques and refreshments for invitees.
CEB officials
said the JEBIC Kelanitissa combined power plant and the Veyangoda
grid sub-station would be officially commissioned by Power and Energy
Minister Karu Jayasuriya on October 6 along with the Japanese ambassador.
They said the
JEBIC power plant which had been commissioned two years ago was
in full operation since the beginning of this year after an opening
ceremony was held before the 2001 election by the then minister
Anuruddha Ratwatte.
They said that
Veyangoda grid sub-station which had been commissioned two years
ago and was fully operational for the past year was to be ceremonially
commissioned on October 1.
Responding
to the criticism, CEB Chairman S. Zubair said that both these projects
though being operational for some time, had only now completed all
the test runs and were ready for the full and official commissioning.
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