2ND LEAD

Tamil homeland to get integrated in Indo-Lanka power grid

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 August 2009, 19:24 GMT]
India is to sign the Joint Venture agreement and Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Government of Sri Lanka this month to accelerate the "much delayed" two strategic power projects- 1,000 MW Champoor Coal Power Plant in Trincomalee and under the sea power cable link to India, "heralding an era for cross-border energy trade" in the near future according to media reports from Colombo quoting top official of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). The official further said that "in a dramatic development this week India has intimated to the GOSL its intention to accelerate these projects". The Indian High Commission in Colombo has recently gifted 117 million rupees to the Sri Lankan military to 'rehabilitate' Palaali military airbase following reports of Kaankeasanthu’rai (KKS) harbour will be given to India.

"All this time, we could not proceed due to various issues, mainly due to the India's 'wait-and-see' approach during the last lap of the Sri Lankan conflict and also due to Indian General Elections which were concluded last May. After the recently concluded discussion, India has intimated to us that all these issues have been sorted out and expressed strong willingness to proceed with the Champoor Power Plant. Thus the Joint Venture agreement and Letter of Intent (LoI) would be signed this month itself. We will simultaneously proceed with High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable link project also," he said.

Attorney General's opinion is sought by the CEB in preparation to sign the agreement and LoI to settle legal issues and once it is resolved both projects would be given green light to go ahead, CEB sources said.

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