Sri Lanka's National System Operator has warned against flying kites near transmission lines and substations after multiple incidents disrupted electricity supply, including one on September 2 that forced emergency disconnections.
The National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd. has issued a public appeal requesting citizens to refrain from flying kites near high-voltage transmission infrastructure, citing repeated disruptions to the national electricity grid. The warning covers areas around 220 kV and 132 kV transmission lines, towers, and grid substations across the country.
According to the NSO, kites and their strings have become entangled with transmission lines on several occasions, causing electrical faults and triggering automatic line disconnections. When such incidents occur, manual removal of the entangled kites and strings must be conducted under controlled safety procedures, adding operational strain to the grid's management. The NSO emphasizes that these disruptions can severely compromise system stability and may force electricity generation units offline.
A specific incident on September 2, 2026, demonstrated the operational impact of such activities. The NSO reported that kite-related entanglement adversely affected power system stability that day, requiring emergency measures including the switching off of selected distribution feeders to maintain grid integrity. This resulted in temporary electricity supply interruptions for consumers connected to affected distribution networks.
The NSO has appealed for public cooperation to ensure the safe, reliable, and uninterrupted operation of Sri Lanka's electricity system, reiterating its request that citizens avoid kite flying activities in proximity to high-voltage transmission infrastructure.