Prime Minister expresses regret over electricity crisis

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today?expressed regret over the?island-wide power-cut which affected the country and called for prompt action to prevent a similar crisis in future.

The Prime Minister, in a special statement, said that he had a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena and the Power and Energy Minister and discussed the situation which arose yesterday.

He said that an investigation into the sudden power-cut is now underway and measures will be taken to hold those responsible.

Wickremesinghe also said that it was found at the discussion held today?that the failure to have a long term plan by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)?resulted in the inability to prevent the power crisis.

The Prime Minister said that Parliament will be briefed on the crisis which arose from the power-cut and measures will be taken to look at ways at averting another crisis.

An explosion at a transformer was believed to have been the cause for the power-cut and investigators today?inspected the transformer and the surrounding area. (Colombo Gazette)