Overriding the fears of water and air pollution raised by environmentalists, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced plans to build 3 coal-fired plants in Trincomalee, Puttalam and Matara. Their cost is estimated to be US $400 million and their combined output is 900 mw.

The decision was prompted by the apprehension that, with spiraling industrial demand, hydropower -- which currently accounts for 80 per cent of Sri Lanka's total power supply -- would be inadequate in the near future. CEB chairperson, Leslie Herath, however, has assured that adequate environmental safeguards will be adopted.