Inadequate backup power in the World Trade Centre building in Colombo Fort, had forced many people to use the stairs during a power outage this evening, witnesses said.

It was also reported that one elevator filled with people between floors had stuck for a long period during the blackout.

However, a spokesperson for Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC, which maintains the building, said that there was adequate backup power.

He said there was no fault in the generators and they had supplied power, as usual, when the mains power supply stopped.

 “One incident was reported of an elevator being stuck for about 10 minutes without generator’s power. That was due to a technical hitch in the specific elevator and not the fault of the generator. All the other elevators picked up speed and moved,” he said.