SriLanka, Oct. 31 -- Sri Lanka's islandwide power failure on October 17 was triggered by the sudden disconnection of 187 megawatts of electricity from the first generating unit of the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant, according to a preliminary investigation report submitted by the National System Operator (NSO) to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).

The NSO has submitted its preliminary investigation report to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), identifying the loss of 187 megawatts of electricity from the Norochcholai plant as the immediate trigger for the blackout.

According to the report, the generating unit disconnected at around 11.43 a.m. within 450 milliseconds, causing the national power sy...