Sri Lanka's hydro power project to start

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka will put its last but the largest hydro power plant into operation next week as part of its efforts to be self sufficient in power supply by the end of this year, its Power and Energy Ministry said Thursday.

The 150 Mega Watt (MW) Upper Kotmale hydropower plant was proposed for over a decade but ran into hurdles over environmental concerns.

Its construction stopped till 2005 before it was fast-tracked by the present government with financial assistance from the Japanese government of some $487 million and the Sri Lankan government contributing an estimated $75 million.

"Construction of the Upper Kotmale Power plant is 92 percent complete and it will commence production of power next week,"the Power and Energy Ministry said a statement. The second generator with 75 MW capacity is expected to be operational by April 2012.

Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in South Asia to tap into its abundant  water resources for hydroelectricity.