Insulators required by the power sector to be manufactured here

By Ifham Nizam

Plans are underway to produce devices required by the country’s power sector locally, especially the Ceylon Electricity Board.

Power Ministry officials said that the latest venture would help save billions of rupees and create many job opportunities.

A discussion, held yesterday at the Ministry of Power under the chairmanship of Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, and Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa, focused on the local production of insulators required for the distribution system of the CEB.

Their aim was to prioritise local industries in line with the government policy, Alahapperuma said.

Alahapperuma said that a lot of funds flowed out of the country due to imports. Minister Weerawansa said his ministry could give its full support to local manufacturers of electrical appliances.

Accordingly, a six-member committee representing the Ministry of Power and Energy, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Ministry of Industries and the Ceylon Ceramics Institute was appointed to look into the local production of the relevant equipment.

Alahapperuma said after receiving the report of the committee, the samples of the relevant devices would be tested and steps would be taken to meet the demand of the local power sector according to the technical specifications.