Technical glitch cause of blackout

Rasika Somarathna

Authorities ruled out sabotage and quoted technical causes as the reason behind the power failure which plunged the country in darkness for several hours since early morning yesterday.

However, a special investigation has been launched to probe the cause of the blackout, Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman E.A.S.K Edirisinghe said.

Addressing the media, Edirisinghe said the blackout could have been the result of a technical failure or even a breakdown of an aging power transmission line

The Chairman said that initially a breakdown of the Kolonnawa-Kelanitissa main power line around 1.30 am had triggered the blackout.

"We were able to restore power for 65 percent of the country by 2.30 am. However around 4.30 am there were two other breakdowns within a short span with the first one occurring in Kotmale," he added.

According to the Chairman by noon yesterday 95 percent of power had been restored.

He said the rest too would be restored shortly and steps would be taken to prevent such an occurrence in the future, based on the findings of the investigation team.