President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the reduction in all fuel cost and electricity tariffs have nothing to do with the upcoming Uva Provincial Council Election.

Addressing the last UPFA meeting before the Uva Provincial Council Election, President Rajapaksa said that he took the decision to reduce the electricity tariffs as the UPFA government recognized the needs of the people.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa maintained that the reduction of the electricity tariff was merely a promise coming to life.

“I made a promise that there would be a reduction in the electricity tariffs by the time of conclusion of the renovations in Norochcholai power plant”, he said.

The President made the announcement of fuel and tariff while speaking at the commissioning of the third phase of Norochcholai Lakvijaya coal power plant, which took place at the Presidential Secretariat. The President of China, Xi Jinping, was also present at the event.

“The government has also taken steps to ensure the wellbeing of the people who are suffering from the drought and a plan is already in motion to establish a contingency plan to take effect during future encounters”, he said.