Sri Lanka takes urgent measures to protect power system following nation wide power failure

The Sri Lankan government on Thursday divulged that there was a serious threat to the country's power and energy system which had led to military deployment to protect all power installations and substations in the country.

Deputy Power and Energy Minister Ajith Perera told journalists in a media briefing here that the police had launched investigations into Sunday's nation wide power failure which was suspected to be an act of sabotage and President Maithripala Sirisena had appointed a special committee to investigate the incident.

However, he assured that the government was putting in place all measures to rectify and upgrade the power and energy system in order to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to all parts of the country in the future.

On Wednesday, security personnel of the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air force were deployed at all Ceylon Electricity Board installations and substations in the country to provide protection.

Following Sunday's islandwide power failure, parts of Sri Lanka faced temporary power cuts this week despite assurances from the power and energy minister on Wednesday that the country's main Coal Power Plant was back in operation.

The power failure on Sunday, which last for over 7 hours, was the longest to be reported in Sri Lanka in 20 years. Investigations have revealed that an explosion in one of the main power transformers in the outskirts of the capital had caused the power failure.

This is the third country wide power failure to be reported in Sri Lanka since the new government won a parliamentary election in August last year.

In September an islandwide power failure lasting for over 4 hours crippled the country due to a technical failure in the main electricity plant.

The second power failure was reported on Feb. 26 which lasted for over 3 hours with the government stating that a lightening jolt had struck one of the main power lines in the capital. Endit