Sri Lanka Nationwide Power Outage: Grid Failure Hits Entire Island, Solar Owners Asked to Disconnect

A nationwide power outage struck Sri Lanka after the transmission network suffered a system instability, the National System Operator (NSO) has confirmed. The country's power grid experienced a complete system failure following an instability that developed this morning, with the interruption reported at approximately 11:45 a.m. today.

According to the NSO, a total power interruption is being experienced across the entire island, and steps are already underway to restore the electricity supply. In support of the restoration efforts, the operator has requested owners of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems to disconnect their systems until further notice.

The request to disconnect rooftop solar systems is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting the grid during the restoration process and preventing any further complications as supply is gradually brought back online. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact cause of the instability or an estimated timeline for full restoration.

This incident highlights the vulnerability of the national grid to system disturbances and the importance of strengthening transmission infrastructure to prevent future widespread failures. The coming hours will be critical as engineers work to stabilise the network and restore power to homes and businesses across the country.