The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced that island-wide power cuts will be implemented today (10) and tomorrow (11), raising serious concerns about the government’s efficiency in crisis management. Shockingly, the power cut schedule being followed was originally issued in 2023, highlighting severe administrative negligence.
According to the CEB, power outages of one-and-a-half hours will take place between 3:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. across the entire island, with areas divided into zones to balance the national grid.
The latest disruptions come in the wake of a major power outage on February 9, which left the entire country without electricity at around 11:15 a.m. The outage was linked to an incident at the Panadura grid substation, where a monkey reportedly entered the facility, causing an imbalance in the system. Although the power was fully restored by 6:00 p.m., a subsequent failure at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant led to the automatic shutdown of all three generators, resulting in a further loss of 900 megawatts.
With the Norochcholai generators requiring four days to restart, authorities have resorted to scheduled power cuts to manage the supply shortfall. However, the revelation that an outdated schedule is being followed has cast doubt on the government’s preparedness and accountability in handling the nation’s energy crisis.
As public frustration grows, this incident serves as yet another example of persistent inefficiencies and poor governance in Sri Lanka’s energy sector. The government is yet to respond to the criticism regarding the use of the outdated schedule, raising further questions about its ability to address the ongoing power crisis effectively.
