An islandwide power failure caused widespread inconvenience to the public last night. It took nearly 7 hours to fully restore power around the island after a system failure in the Kotmale-Biyagama transmission line was reported around 5:15 PM.
The Ceylon Electricity Board states that initial data shows lightning strikes on the Kotmale to Biyagama transmission line caused the islandwide power breakdown.
Power & Energy State Minister Indika Anuruddha informed Parliament that two separate inquiries by the Ministry of Power and the Ceylon Electricity Board are currently underway. (NewsWire)