The government has decided to expand the capacity of the electricity distribution grid currently under the Lanka Electricity Company (LECO).

The project to improve capacity of the grid is to cost Rs 2164.3 million. The proposal put forward to this effect by Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has been given Cabinet approval.

Interestingly, this comes at the backdrop where the Ceylon Electricity Board and its subsidiaries have been under fire for financial mismanagement which has seen those entities incurring severe losses.

LECO controls the grid from Negombo in the Western coast to Galle in the Southern coast of the island. For this end 31 substations are currently under operation. Substations with 33/11 kW capacity, which comes under the Clean Energy and Access Improvement Project funded by the Asian Development Bank, are in operation in Katunayake, Kotikawatta, Kiribathgoda, Nawala and Hikkaduwa.