National Democratic Front (NDF) Member of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake has called for a comprehensive explanation regarding the nationwide power outage that occurred on October 17. Speaking in Parliament under Standing Order 27.2, Karunanayake requested detailed information on the causes of the blackout, accountability for the failure, and steps being taken to prevent a recurrence.
The October 17 blackout followed a similar islandwide power failure on February 9, 2025, raising concerns about the stability and resilience of the national electricity grid. Karunanayake directed several questions to Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, seeking clarity on the initial fault, its exact location and timing, and the specific events at the Kotmale substation. He pressed for details on the preventive measures applied and how the disturbance ultimately resulted in the collapse of the national grid.
The MP demanded the release of time-stamped operational records related to electricity generation, demand, grid frequency, voltage levels, and protection system responses. Highlighting the National System Operator’s statement that no generating plant had failed, Karunanayake questioned whether the shutdown of the Norochcholai Power Plant was a cause or effect of the blackout. He also requested independent coal-quality test results amid allegations of substandard fuel contributing to the incident.
Karunanayake sought updates on the implementation of recommendations and regulatory directives issued following the February 2025 outage. He inquired which corrective actions remained pending and the reasons for any delays. Furthermore, he asked for a timeline detailing the restoration of transmission substations and consumer connections, as well as explanations for repeated power interruptions in certain areas.
Additional concerns included protective measures for critical infrastructure such as hospitals, water treatment plants, and telecommunications networks during the outage. The MP also questioned why rooftop solar power systems had been disconnected before the grid failure and requested data on solar generation, overall electricity demand, and reserve margins at the time.
Addressing issues related to renewable energy, Karunanayake raised queries regarding tariffs and compensation for renewable power producers affected by curtailment orders issued by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on September 10, 2026. He called for disclosure of energy volumes curtailed, compensation paid and outstanding, along with a timeline for settling arrears.
Karunanayake further advocated for enforceable service standards and consumer compensation mechanisms to address the impacts of power outages, voltage fluctuations, and resulting damage to electrical equipment. He asked for separate assessments of losses borne by the National System Operator and consumers from both the October 17 and February 9 blackouts, including the methodologies used for these estimates.
The MP also requested information about grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESS), including their locations, commissioning dates, capacities in megawatts and megawatt-hours, and their role in mitigating generation shortfalls.
In conclusion, Karunanayake urged the government to present a time-bound corrective action plan with clear responsibilities, funding requirements, and measurable outcomes, along with regular progress reports to Parliament.