Sri Lanka Suffers Second Nationwide Blackout This Year After Grid Trip

Sri Lanka's power grid tripped around noon Saturday, producing a nationwide blackout. Engineers restored supply in stages. Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said restoration would occur stage by stage and stated: "We request rooftop solar system owners to disconnect their systems until further instructions in order to support the restoration efforts." The water utility warned against wasting water; Times of India reported effects on water supplies, internet and mobile connectivity. Officials pointed to possible excess rooftop solar generation over demand and a suspected failure at the Upper Kotmale hydropower station in the central hill country detected Friday; the cause was unconfirmed. Tax concessions have driven solar adoption and surplus sales to the grid. A February 2025 nationwide failure also tied to solar exceeding demand lasted more than six hours. Installed solar capacity is just over 3,000 megawatts while daytime demand runs 2,000 to 2,500 megawatts. CONTESTED: Duration is more than two hours per Khaleej Times and wire accounts, more than three hours per inkl and Times of India.