CEB imposes Trincomalee power cut

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 August 1999, 15:30 GMT]
A 45 minute-power cut has been imposed in the eastern port town of Trincomalee from today after heavy winds damaged the electricity pylon at Tamplakamam, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) sources said.

The power cut will last from 7.15 p.m. until 8 p.m. daily, according to the electricity board. The restrictions will continue until the damaged pylon is replaced, the sources added. The CEB were unable to say how long the cut would last.

The pylon supplies electricity to the district from a main station in Anuradhapura. Although CEB engineers repaired the pylon twice before, recent high winds have caused irreparable damage. CEB officials in Trincomalee are awaiting technicians from Colombo to replace the damaged pylon.

In the meantime, the CEB has arranged to supply electricity to the Trincomalee district from the Habarana main station about 50 kilometres north west of the town.

Previously, the Anuradhapura main power station supplied 132,000 watts of electricity. Now, the Trincomalee district will be receive a lower voltage supply (32,000 watts) from the Habarana power station.

The present power cut is the result of the low-voltage electricity supply to the Trincomalee district from Habarana main station, the CEB sources said.

The pylon was constructed by the CEB at Kovilady in Tamplakamam village, 15 kilometres north west of Trincomalee.