Your above titled editorial has voiced eloquently and in no unequivocal terms on the cause of the present miserable power cut when you say, "The main cause for the present power crisis, which is to be compounded in years to come, is said to be the failure of the government to have implemented the Norochcholai coal-fired power project. This power project had to be abandoned or shelved indefinitely to stiff resistance put up by a group of people (would say, forced, pushed or coaxed) led by the Bishop of Chilaw. Experts have warned that unless it is implemented shortly, the country will be in for a far worse..."

What you have failed or omitted to mention is the latest statement made by the Chief Representative of the Japanese Bank for International Co-operation that they have spent over 9 million dollars US on the feasibility study and is waiting for a request from the government to fund the construction at a cost of 500 million US dollars. It is not understood, after all the clearance given by experts on environment and engineering (with a suggestion from Denmark Consultants, who did a further study on the request of the Bishop of Chilaw, that a harbour be built instead of a 4.2 km jetty) the government is still making the country to suffer in future years too. I read in a newspaper a few days back, the Bishop of Chilaw has overstepped his stand by saying that he is against coal power generation in any part of the island. I leave the readers, those who suffer, to draw their own rational conclusions.

Reading the newspapers and those who view the TV specially the telecast ‘Power Crisis’ have noticed that none of the politicians who come on TV gave a definite statement on Norochchalai but evaded by saying that coal generation is the cheapest. M’s. P. Dayaratna, John Ameratunga, Kodituwakku of the UNP, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Anuruddha Ratwatte of the PA. The JVP has not touched it as perhaps, their object is something else. I have today heard over the TV Mr. Alavi Moulana touching on Norochchalai plant and made mention of the objection by the Bishop of Chilaw and he should be made to understand and convince. He did not fail to criticise the officials as usually done by politicians when something goes wrong.

What the politicians of both major parties try to hide is the blunder they made at the Vayamba Provincial Council elections, where for the fake of a few votes, promised the Bishop of Chilaw that the Coal Plant at Norochchalai will not be taken up. It would appear the Bishop took advantage of the provincial council election to agree, for he knew that politicians are only to seek personal power forsaking the entire nation. After all, specially, promises made at election times are meant to be broken as seen by past records and this promise if broken will have the applause of the entire nation. The people of this country will be very much relieved if the President will at least now make a formal request to the Japanese government for a loan of 500 US dollars which they are waiting for. Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike should not forget that she will still be the President of this country even if her party does not win.

In history, we learnt that a certain king — King Mahasen, when he started constructing the Minneriya Wewa, there was a hermit in deep meditation on the trace of the bund. To remove the hermit was a problem and as the King was so impatient to finish the work on schedule, he ordered that the hermit be plastered on the bund and the work was completed on time. Today, after so many centuries, he is worshipped, venerated as Minneriya Deviyo. A kovil has been built on the bund to pay homage. Who is going to be the Norochchalai Deviyo? Here no hermit or person or building is involved.

S. Gardiarachchi
Boralesgamuwa