Power cuts end after restoration of Norochcholai Unit 2

Power outages ceased following the restoration of Lakvijaya Power Station’s Unit 2, announced by Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka. The unit's return to operation concluded a five-day electricity crisis that began with a nationwide blackout on Saturday, October 17. The disruption, which lasted less than a minute, was triggered when a generating unit disconnected from the national grid, causing an imbalance and cascading failure across the entire system.

Restoration efforts commenced shortly after the outage, with major hydropower units returning to service by 12:11 p.m. The system was gradually reconnected in stages, with essential services such as major hospitals, water treatment facilities, and the airport reconnected by 3 p.m. Full grid reconnection occurred around 5 p.m., bringing power back to most consumers.

However, Norochcholai's three generating units were temporarily shut down as a precaution under standard safety protocols and will remain offline for several days while the necessary procedures are carried out.

The crisis underscored the economic implications of electricity supply instability, affecting manufacturers, exporters, retailers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and service providers. These businesses faced production interruptions, delayed deliveries, increased operating expenses, and uncertainty over business continuity.

The situation prompted the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to approve one-hour rotational power cuts for three consecutive days, from October 19 to 21, to manage the electricity shortfall if necessary.