PUCSL approves one-hour daily power cuts for three days amid Lakvijaya outage

Tuesday, 20 October 2026 02:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Four groups to face staggered evening interruptions from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. as authorities manage generation shortfall

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved one-hour daily power cuts across the country for three consecutive days from 19 to 21 October, if required, to manage electricity demand amid the unavailability of the Lakvijaya Power Station following the blackout on Saturday (17).

The approved demand-management schedules divide the country into four groups, with interruptions staggered across the evening between 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. The National System Operator (NSO) CEO Buddhika Samarasinghe announced yesterday that approval had been sought for the temporary power cuts.

Under the schedule for 19 October, Group 1 was allocated an interruption beginning between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., Group 2 between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., Group 3 between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Group 4 between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

For 20 October, the sequence shifts to Group 4, Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively, across the same staggered time slots. On 21 October, Group 3 will be first, followed by Groups 4, 1, and 2.

Authorities said the interruptions would be implemented only if Electricity Distribution Lanka Ltd., (EDL) needed to manage demand because available generation capacity was insufficient following the Lakvijaya Plant’s unavailability.

Interruption and restoration times may vary by up to 30 minutes, depending on electricity demand, available generation capacity, and prevailing weather conditions.

The three-day schedule provides a temporary demand-management arrangement while the generation shortfall is addressed.