President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (11) asked the Power and Energy Ministry to provide electricity to the public at affordable rates, as it is a service offered to the people rather than being a sole profit making venture.
The President made this statement during a meeting with Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka and ministry officials at the ministry premises.
During the meeting, the President had said that electricity is an important part of life and for development purposes.
A statement released by the Power and Energy Ministry states that the President had recalled when the government came into power in 2005, it had designed programmes to fulfill the people’s electricity needs.
“We need to fulfill people’s aspirations. Therefore, the Power and Energy Ministry has a great responsibility in serving the public regardless of party politics, or ethnic, religious and other differences. The Power and Energy Ministry officials should lead the government’s development process,” the President has said.
Referring to the rising prices of fuel in the global market, the President has said the government is planning a programme to provide fuel to the public at affordable rates.