Kithulgala Power Plant to add 35 Megawatts of power to grid

The main water source for the plant were the MaskeliOya and the Kehelgamu-Oya – two tributaries of the Kelani River

Construction work on the Kithulgala Power Plant that would add 35 megawatts of power to the National Grid was due to commence today (15).

The foundation stone for the plant that holds much significance for Sri Lanka, would be laid with the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the Power and Energy Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi at t he Broadlands in Kithulgala at the auspicious time of 11 am today.

The main water source for the plant were t he MaskeliOya and the Kehelgamu-Oya – two tributaries of the Kelani River while the main dam being constructed across the Maskeli-Oya with the water from Kehelgamu-Oya to be diverted to it.

The site where the dam was located was in the Nuwara-Eliya District while the site for the plant comes under the Yatiyantota Pradeshiya Sabha in the Kegalle District. The total cost of the plant was estimated to be US $ 82 million of which 85% would be financed by the International Development Bank of China while the balance was to be raised locally, Minister Wanniarachchi confirmed.

In addition to the extra electricity that would be generated by this plant roads and drinking water infrastructure in the area would also be developed.