Do not put blame of blackout on monkey to cover up Govt’s inefficiency: Small Industrialists

Colombo, Feb 10 (Daily Mirror) - The Small Industrialists' Association urged the government to provide compensation for damages incurred by the sector due to the recent islandwide power outage. 

They also criticised the authorities, saying that the blame for the issue should not be shifted onto a monkey to cover up their inefficiency.

Addressing the media, All Ceylon Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ACSMEA) Convenor Niruksha Kumara said their businesses had suffered significant losses due to the sudden blackout.

"This is the seventh major blackout recorded by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) between 2010 and 2025. Most industrialists rely on electricity as their primary source of power. Due to this six-to-seven-hour outage, our businesses have suffered massive losses," he said.

He demanded that the CEB and the Energy Ministry calculate the financial impact on industrialists and provide compensation. He also noted that despite similar incidents in the past, authorities have failed to take measures to minimise damages.

"This time, the government and the CEB must compensate the industrialists. Even the Electricity Act mandates compensation for consumers affected by power cuts," he added.