Colombo: Sri Lanka suffered its worst nationwide power cut in 20 years today causing water shortages, transport and trade disruptions across the country, officials said.
The national grid switched off early afternoon and attempts to reconnect failed as the system was unable to cope with night time demand, a spokesman for the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) utility said.
It was the second major power failure in less than a month, following a three-hour disruption late February.
CEB chief Anura Wijepala accepted responsibility for the latest breakdown and offered to resign, the state-run Daily News said.
Internet and mobile phone services were also disrupted in many places where there were no stand-by generators.
The national grid switched off early afternoon and attempts to reconnect failed as the system was unable to cope with night time demand, a spokesman for the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) utility said.
It was the second major power failure in less than a month, following a three-hour disruption late February.
CEB chief Anura Wijepala accepted responsibility for the latest breakdown and offered to resign, the state-run Daily News said.
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Internet and mobile phone services were also disrupted in many places where there were no stand-by generators.
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