Over 50% of power outages restored amid severe weather: CEB

Colombo, June 1 (Daily Mirror) - In the wake of torrential rains and gale-force winds that battered the country, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced that nearly half of the widespread power outages reported during the extreme weather have been restored.

Out of more than 70,012 breakdowns reported around the country, the CEB confirmed that 41,684 have already been resolved, crediting the tireless efforts and resilience of its field crews.

Entire communities were plunged into darkness as trees toppled, power lines snapped, and poles were broken under the strain of the severe weather. Yet, in the face of destruction, CEB teams mobilized with quiet determination.

“In the hill country, our linemen climbed mist-shrouded hills at the break of day. In remote areas, teams braved flooded terrain, carrying tools and equipment through knee-deep water,” a senior CEB official said. “Many of them worked 16-hour shifts, some without a proper meal or sleep all to bring electricity back to the people.”

Despite limited personnel and resources stretched to the brink, the CEB called the ongoing recovery efforts a "national miracle." Crews operated under tarpaulin shelters during the night, waiting for first light to begin their next round of repairs often under dangerous and exhausting conditions.

The CEB assured the public that restoration work will continue until all affected areas regain electricity, urging patience and acknowledging the heroic efforts of their frontline workers.

“We may not see them, but they are out there soaked, tired, and still climbing poles,” the spokesperson added. “We thank them, and we continue the work.”