By A group of monkeys who entered the Panadura Power Station had ended up in a spat, interfering with the power grids, causing an islandwide power outage, sources from the Power and Energy Ministry said.
Energy Minister Eng. Kumara Jayakody has stated that no prior plans were implemented in the past to maintain the stability of the national power grid. He emphasized that the unplanned and short-sighted actions of previous governments led to the current power outage, which has caused significant disruption across the country.
In his statement, Minister Jayakody explained, “This morning, an imbalance caused by an emergency situation at the Panadura grid substation resulted in a nationwide power outage.” He further clarified that preliminary investigations suggest that the failure to prioritize the stability of the national power grid in past years, coupled with poor guidance and a lack of understanding of modern technology, contributed to this crisis.
The Minister also mentioned that the government is committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the causes of this situation and taking the necessary steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again in the future. In his remarks, he expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to the public and thanked those who worked tirelessly to restore the power grid.
However, there is growing speculation among some observers that the incident might have been influenced by political forces. A theory circulating is that this power outage could be part of a deliberate plan by those who oppose the increased use of solar energy in Sri Lanka. These opponents may view the integration of renewable energy sources like solar power as a threat to their interests, and the disruption of the power grid could be seen as an effort to undermine public confidence in alternative energy solutions.
While there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, it raises an important point about the challenges faced by the government as it seeks to transition to greener energy sources. The integration of solar energy is seen by many as a vital step in addressing Sri Lanka’s long-term energy needs, yet it has faced resistance from certain quarters due to concerns over costs, infrastructure, and potential disruptions to the existing energy balance.
In the wake of this power outage, it is crucial for the government to remain transparent and ensure that all relevant parties, including those advocating for renewable energy, are part of the conversation as solutions are sought. Only through a collaborative approach, which includes input from both government officials and industry experts, can Sri Lanka ensure that its power grid is stable, resilient, and future-proof.
This ongoing investigation and the responses to this crisis will likely determine the future of the country’s energy policy and its ability to effectively manage both conventional and renewable energy sources.
Explaining on the delay in power restoration Engineer Sanatha Preasirui said that restoration is gradual process and if not there would be s system collapse once again.
