Colombo, Oct 17 (IANS): Sri Lanka on Monday announced nation-wide power cuts following a breakdown in the island's only coal-fired power plant.
The Power and Energy Ministry said the power-cut will be imposed across the country, but not in capital Colombo, Xinhua news agency reported.
The electricity will be cut for 2.5 hours in the morning from 8 a.m. and for one hour in the evening from 6 p.m.
However the Power and Energy Ministry said that electricity will not be cut in hospitals.
Sri Lanka was forced to impose power cuts after the coal power plant broke down on Saturday.
The Norochcholai coal power plant contributes to a major portion of Sri Lanka's electricity demand.
The power plant had malfunctioned several times in the past as well resulting in similar power cuts.