Two hour power cuts from today

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has decided to impose country wide power cuts from Monday (23).

Power cuts will be imposed daily for two hours in the morning and afternoon in selected areas, the CEB says.

The power crisis has been caused by the collapse of power generation at two thermal plants due to technical failures.

The generation at Norochcholai coal power plant and the Kerawalapitiya thermal power plant has been suspended due to the breakdowns and the national grid has lost a supply of 400 megawatts. CEB chairman Dr. Wimaladharma Abeywickrema says power cuts will be imposed in several parts of the country commencing tomorrow until operations at the power plants are restored.

Sri Lanka’s hydropower reservoirs have not received sufficient rains to generate more power to compensate for the losses in thermal power.