Sri Lanka speeds up work on power project after Rajapaksa-Modi meet

New Delhi, May 29: Sri Lankan President

on Wednesday asked officials to expedite implementation of the Sampur Coal Power Project, which is being built jointly with India. The two neighbouring countries finalised the $512 million coal-powered electricity plant in the eastern port district of Trincomalee.

President directs Power & Energy Secretary & Attorney General to expedite implementation of Sampur Coal Power Project. #SriLanka #India #lka

— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) May 28, 2014

The plant will see the construction of two power generators of 250 megawatts each.

It was said that Modi wanted to know the status of the project from Rajapaksha

It was announced during signing of the deal that the construction would begin within a year and the plant was to be connected to the national grid by 2018 to provide cheap electricity. The venture had been delayed several times since 2005 due to various issues, the officials added.

However, what has made the Tamils in India happy is the firm manner the new prime minister has taken up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities. According to sources, Modi was being constantly briefed up by Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh about issues related to India-Sri Lanka affairs and he took up the matter with Rajapaksha during his one-to-one talk at Hyderabad House on May 27.

Modi met the heads of all SAARC nations and also Mauritius on that day after they attended his swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi on May 26.

Oneindia News