After laying the foundation stone to inaugurate the Norochcholai Coal Power Project yesterday, President Mahinda Rajapakse said the occasion, though appearing to be one of laying a foundation stone, could in fact be defined as the turning of a new page in the country’s culture

"The power crisis of the past is best forgotten and we could now have new hopes. In other words its another step towards the nation’s freedom," he said.

The President said that 25 per cent of the country’s population did not have electricity despite the available hydro power being tapped to the maximum. "Even the Upper Kotmale project would yield only 150 MW of power but in four years time the country would need 900 MW. The country’s power needs increase by 10 per cent every year. This requirement cannot be met through hydro power projects but however, this could be achieved through thermal power at tremendous cost. Since our aim is to fullfil the expectations of the people we decided to expedite the Norochcholai project which is being built with a Chinese loan facility. By 2010 we would complete this project and by 2030 we would settle the loan," he said.

The President reminded the audience how, soon after the Russian revolution, Lenin told the masses that the entire Soviet would be provided with electricity within six years.On hearing Lenin’s pledge, world famous fairy tales author,Hans Christian Anderson told Lenin that the latter seemed to be a better fairy tales author than Anderson himself.But when he visited Soviet Union after six years he was amazed to see the entire country having electricity.He first apologized to Lenin and subsequently wished him.