Under the programme titled  'power plant to the village', the government has planned to complete installing 7,000 solar power plants within three years and contribute 700 MW to the national grid, Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Addressing the media to announce the plans to launch the first phase of the 7,000 Solar Power Plant project to be constructed islandwide in association with 7,000 selected transformers.

Accordingly, 880 power plants will be constructed as the first phase of the project and calling for tenders had already commenced today, the Minister said.

He said under the first phase, these power plants will be added to the national grid within seven months.

"These 7,000 power plants will be set up under a 20-year agreement with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and that there would be no political impact on them. If anyone dreaming of a change in the government, we should wish him a good night's sleep," the Minister said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Pix by Kithsiri de Mel