The 300 MW power station is located in Kerawalapitiya, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.

Phase 1 of the power station was ceremonially inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapakse on 8 December 2008.

The US$300 million power station was supported by a €152 million debt component through HSBC, which was supported by export credit agencies in the United States, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, France, and Austria.

[1] Built over a 25 acres (0.10 km2) site, the power station will utilize two 100 MW GE Frame 9E Gas Turbines and one GE steam turbine, and will generate approximately 1,800 GWh annually.

The agreement was approved by the Sri Lankan government allowing New Fortress Energy's investment in West Coast Power Ltd.[6][7] Trade Unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) oppose the agreement and warned the Government of an islandwide power outage after 3 November if it fails to withdraw from the controversial agreement.