Rs. 59 million has been allocated by the Central Provincial Council for the improvement of electricity supply and to complete existing works in the rural areas of the Central Province. This will benefit 5,998 families living in the rural areas of the Central Province, said Secretary to the Central Province Ministry for Electricity and Power, and Co-operatives K.P. Karunadasa. This undertaking will benefit a large number of persons living in far flung areas still using kerosene oil for lighting up the houses which they have to fetch from distant areas at a high cost. This also is aimed at upgrading the facilities available for the poor people living in distant villages and envisaged in the Mahinda Chinthana. This has the blessings of the Governor of the Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake and the Central Province Minister for Power and Energy Ediriweera Weerawardena. According to the allocation made the Kandy District will be allocated Rs. 34 million for 134 projects, the Matale District Rs. 16 million for 47 projects, and Nuwara Eliya District Rs. 7.5 million for 43 projects. When these projects are completed a very large number of persons living in darkness in the Central Province will be benefitted and they will also be able to use power for their trades which hitherto they have been performing manually losing man hours and with a lower output. These projects have been based on the recommendations of the Divisional Secretaries of the respective areas, for the provision of essential facilities.