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Norochcholai caught in power battle
The controversial Norochcholai power project has been thrown into three-phased confusion. President Chandrika Kumaratunga though in the last days of her presidency has given orders for the Ceylon Electricity Board to go ahead with the project.

But both main presidential candidates Mahinda Rajapakse and Ranil Wickremesinghe have pledged they would review the project before taking a decision.

Prime Minister Rajapakse has assured the Catholic Bishop of Chilaw and the Muslim community that he would not allow the project until a full reassessment is made.

Mr. Wickremesinghe has said he will appoint a committee to review the project. Chilaw’s Catholic Bishop, Frank Marcus Fernando, leading the opposition to the project, issued a tough statement criticizing the President for wanting to go ahead with the project despite all the protests.

After several years of controversy, the President during her recent visit to China finalized the deal on the Norochcholai project with her advisor and business tycoon Harry Jayawardena playing a major role.
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