Sri Lanka’s power sector faced with a crisis situation in recent days. Power supplies interrupted for the whole country a few days ago and the sudden breakdown was considered as sabotage. Several reasons were mentioned for the sudden interruption in the power supply. One of the interesting reasons was that the interruption occurred due to a monkey prank in a electricity pylon in a remote area in the Island. Some of the media in the Island had reported that a monkey had gone into a pylon and damaged certain switches and a result of it electricity supply had interrupted and on the other hand the poor monkey also died as a result of electrocution.

However later the monkey story was found to be a fake story and the Electricity Board denying the story had said that the power interruption was mainly due to the breakdown at the coal supply station at Norochcholai Power plant and the plant is known as Lakvijaya Power plant. The construction of the Norochcholai power plant commenced in 11 May 2006 and the plant was operational from 22 March 2011. It is a thermal ower station and the fuelused for its operation is known as Bituminuos coal. So the power is basically a coal power station located in an area of 213 acres where one thousand people are employed.

So the first ever coal-fired thermal power plant and the largest power station functioned as a venture of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) with the aid of EXIM Bank of
China. From the time of its commencement the Norochcholai power plant faced with several issues. Lengthy power interruptions occurred as a result of problems emerged at the Noraichcholai power plant. The power interruptions also connected due to problematic political issues.

Therefore as a result of power cuts due to frequent breakdown in Noraichcholai the power supply now has been limited under four categories for nearly five hours. The current power rationing occurs since August 2022 when the country plunged into an economic crisis leading to a shortage of essential commodities including fuel and power. It was at this stage $ 4billion credit line from India helped Sri Lanka in recovery effort. It is in this background Sri Lanka explored the possibilities of expanding the power generation in the Island. The India’s Adani group which had come forward to help the Island nation with wind power supply has now decided to withdraw from its $442 million green wind power project. The project was considered a mega green power project to be carried out in the country. President Anurakumara Dissanayake citing several shortcomings with regard to the Adani green wind power project had criticized it and pledged to cancel it when the Government formed by him during his election campaign.

Therefore the cancelation of Adani green power project falls in line with the pledge President Dissanayake had mad during his election campaign. However the big question now comes up with regard to the electricity power issues in the country is that how the Island nation is going to deal with the problematic situation in the country. Unlike in the past the demand for power supply is more. Factories, workplaces and residential areas have come up in a big way throughout the country. With the end of civil strife in the country even tourism sector has developed in a healthy way in recent years and the Western tourists are now arriving in the Island in their thousands. Therefore in this backdrop interruption in the power supply which remains the lifeline of the country will cause a big damage to the country’s economy extensively. India being the immediate neighbor and the country which extends its support to Sri Lanka whenever a crisis situation whether the economic crisis, political crisis or even the natural disaster, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) Government has to maintain a good rapport with India.

Following the withdrawal of Adani green power project in Sri Lanka , the island nation is likely to face a crisis situation with regard to its relations with India. Indian Government has already expressed its dismay over the Lankan government’s decision to request Adani green power project from the Island. Therefore with the breakdown at the China funded Norachcholai coal power plant and the Adani’s withdrawal from the Green power project, Sri Lanka’s relations with India is likely to be shaky. Political observers foresee more anti-Indian stances are likely to be taken by the NPP government in the future.