Sri Lanka: Rotational power cuts occurring nationwide through 19:30 Feb. 21

Event

Authorities have announced rotational power cuts nationwide through 19:30 Feb. 21. One-hour disruptions will occur islandwide, except Southern Province, which will experience three-hour outages through 16:30. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has attributed the issues to inadequate electricity generation.

Business and transport disruptions are likely during the outages. Businesses without backup generators may have to suspend operations. Traffic lights and railway signaling mechanisms may not function, resulting in transport disruptions. Officials are likely to ration fuel, limiting fuel availability for vehicles. Increased use of hydropower plants to ease shortages may also exacerbate municipal water outages caused by electricity disruptions. Water filtration and security systems running on electricity may malfunction, increasing the risk of opportunistic crime and health issues, respectively.

Advice

Limit unnecessary movements during power outages. Confirm travel reservations in advance. Plan for ground travel delays. Any traveler encountering nonoperational traffic lights should treat the intersections as a four-way stop. Charge all batteries and mobile devices. Ensure generators have a sufficient fuel supply in case the outage becomes protracted. Restrict cellular phone use to emergencies if operating in an area without power. Conserve water as a precaution.