Asiaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Sri Lanka Suffers Islandwide Power Outage After Upper Kotmale Power Station Breakdown
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Islandwide outage suspected to stem from a breakdown at Upper Kotmale Power Station. Officials say restoration is staged, with outages lasting several hours and ongoing repairs.
Grid failure hits island
Sri Lanka suffered an islandwide power outage on Saturday after the National System Operator said a system instability caused a total system failure in the transmission network. The National System Operator reported that the outage was experienced islandwide and said steps were underway to restore electricity supply. Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka said a breakdown at the Upper Kotmale Power Station was suspected to have caused the outage.
“Energy Minister Anura Karunathilake said a breakdown at the Upper Kotmale Power Station was suspected to have caused the outage.”
Sri Lanka suffered an islandwide power outage from around noon on Saturday (October 17, 2026), with the blackout continuing for more than three hours as authorities worked to restore electricity across the island in stages. The blackout disrupted water supplies, internet services and mobile connectivity while officials restored power.
Solar panels disconnected
The National System Operator asked owners of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems to disconnect their systems until further notice to support restoration efforts. Anura Karunathilaka urged rooftop solar panel owners to remain disconnected from the grid until the power system was balanced and restored, according to the state power entity. The water supply agency warned people against wasting water because power cuts could affect supplies.
The outage disrupted essential services and the government said a failure at a hydropower station in the central hill country, detected a day earlier, could have contributed to it. The minister urged rooftop solar panel owners to keep their systems disconnected from the grid until the power network was stabilised and electricity supplies restored.
Restoration in stages
Authorities worked to restore electricity across Sri Lanka in stages after the islandwide blackout began around noon on Saturday. The government told people that a failure at a hydropower station in the central hill country, detected on Friday, could have contributed to the outage. Anura Karunatilaka said, "Due to a sudden system failure, the whole island suffered an electricity breakdown," as officials continued restoration efforts.
“‘Due to a sudden system failure, the whole island suffered an electricity breakdown,’ Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka said.”
The cause of the outages and the estimated time for restoring electricity had yet to be confirmed while residents in multiple areas experienced disruptions. The National System Operator said a total power interruption was being experienced islandwide and that restoration steps were underway.