Damage to power plant

Minister of Power and Energy John Senaviratna met journalist at the Kelanitissa Power Plant in Colombo which was subjected to ariel bombing blamed on the Tamil Tigers on Tuesday night.

The minister said that the damage had been confined to two power generators and the two Tiger planes had to flee without accomplishing their objectives.

“The attack will not interrupt powers supplies” said Minister John Senaviratna.

The minister said that security precautions had been taken as the power station had been classified as a key strategic point.

“The power station had a contingent of about two thousand Army personal and anti aircraft guns were in place"said Minister Senaviratna.

Major General Ranjith Soysa Defence consultant at the power plant said that as a result of anti air craft guns opening fire at the planes the Tiger planes could not get close to their targets.

	Damage

Shock

A trade unionist on duty said that all the staff joined in with the fire brigade in extinguishing the fire and within a hour the fire was put off.

S.A Ananda, Assistant Secretary of the technical staff union said that he was on duty when the attack took place.

“A bomb fell on to a generator close to where I was on duty and I immediately switched off the power supply” said Ananda.

He said that three cooling fans have been damaged in the generator close to him and a second generator in another section of the power plant had also been damaged.

Ananda said that a colleague at the power plant who lost consciousness due to shock died after being admitted to the hospital.