CEB's Power Heroes restore electricity amid Cyclone Ditwah devastation

Sri Lanka's national electricity network is gradually returning to normalcy after Cyclone Ditwah inflicted unprecedented damage across the island.

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According to Noel Priyantha, Deputy General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), around 85 percent of power connections disrupted by the emergency disaster situation have now been restored, out of approximately 3.9 million affected consumers.

The cyclone, widely regarded as the most powerful wind disaster in recent Sri Lankan history, caused widespread destruction. Torrential rains and strong winds impacted all 25 districts, with Badulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Monaragala, Kegalle, and Matale being the hardest hit. Alongside flooding, the Rantembe Reservoir recorded the highest water level in its history, prompting the release of over 7,500 cubic metres per second of water into the Mahaweli River—more than double its previous maximum release of 3,550 cubic metres per second.

The massive water surge proved catastrophic for the national electricity grid. The 15th transmission tower of the 132,000-volt double-circuit Rantembe-Mahiyanganaya line collapsed, leaving extensive areas including Mahiyanganaya, Ampara, and Batticaloa in darkness. Observers say the twisted steel tower lying on the ground vividly illustrates the disaster's magnitude.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, CEB staff immediately mobilized.

Officers of the LNW Transmission Division, along with workers from the Randenigala-Rantembe power stations, reached affected sites as soon as floodwaters began to recede. They began erecting damaged lines, and working tirelessly to restore the double-circuit system. At present, partial electricity has been restored using the 33,000-volt system, though full normalization of daily life remains a complex challenge.

"The CEB teams have worked around the clock—day and night—setting aside even their own safety and personal needs," Priyantha said. "Their courage and spirit of selfless service are extraordinary."