⚡ Islandwide Power Outage Triggered by Generator Failure; Investigation Underway

• Overview: An automatic generator disconnection on Saturday (17) at 11:43 a.m. caused a total collapse of Sri Lanka's national power grid within 30 seconds. System restoration commenced shortly after, with main hydropower units reconnected by 12:11 p.m. Essential services (hospitals, airports, water plants) were restored by 3:00 p.m., and all grid substations were reconnected by 5:00 p.m. • Grid Capacity & Supply Outlook: • The Norochcholai coal power plant will remain offline for several days, stripping 810 MW of capacity from the grid. • The National System Operator (NSO) expects to manage supply pressures with minimal disruption by utilizing maximum hydropower generation (supported by rainfall) alongside current lower demand. • Current Status: An internal investigation has been launched by the NSO to determine why an automatic generator trip led to a complete system-wide failure.