Lightning strike may have caused power outage: CEB

A lightning strike on the main circuit transmitting electricity between the Polpitiya Substation and Kolonnawa in Colombo is suspected to be the cause of the power outage that affected the entire country this afternoon, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman Anura Wijepala told the Sunday Times. 

While teams from the CEB were continuing to investigate the matter to pinpoint the exact cause, it is currently suspected that the lightning strike may have triggered a chain reaction that cut off power to the entire island, the CEB chairman noted. 

He said the CEB was currently working to ensure that electricity supply is restored to most parts of the island by 6.00pm today. 

Meanwhile, Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has ordered relevant officials to conduct an immediate probe into the power outage and submit a report to him. 

A special committee meeting on the island-wide blackout is due to be held at 7.00pm today chaired by Minister Siyambalapitiya. Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith P. Perera, Ministry Secretary Dr. Suren Batagoda, CEB Chairman Anura Wijepala and General Manager M.C. Wickramasekara are due to attend this meeting. 

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