The power station is in Norocholai, Puttalam, on the southern end of the Kalpitiya Peninsula.

[1] The first 300-megawatt phase was completed and ceremonially commissioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 22 March 2011 at 18:27 local time, with the presence of Minister of Energy Champika Ranawaka, deputy Minister of Energy Premalal Jayasekara.

Power station exhausts are emitted through a 150 m (492 ft) tall chimney, one of the country's tallest man-made structures.

[1] During its pre-development stages, protests were launched by residents living at the project site, claiming that they were deceived by the government.

[6] It has been alleged by the Power and Renewable Energy Deputy Minister, Ajith P. Perera, that the power plant was built with substandard and outdated material and is below international standards, and that the government is unable to claim any damages as the Rajapaksa government agreed to use the materials specified in the agreement which are sub-standard.