A Matara court has directed a man to pay the Ceylon Electricity Board for losses sustained when he climbed a high-voltage transmission tower in protest over a family dispute, causing a power outage affecting multiple areas.
The Matara Magistrate's Court has ordered financial compensation from a man who climbed a high-voltage electricity transmission tower on July 21 in the Kamburupitiya area. The incident, stemming from a family dispute, resulted in significant disruption to the region's power supply.
The unauthorized climb forced authorities to suspend electricity supply to seven areas—Thihagoda, Kamburupitiya, Akuressa, Mulatiyana, Deiyandara, Mawarala, and Deniyaya—for more than two hours. Police responded by bringing family members to the scene, which prompted the man to descend. He was arrested immediately and brought before court, where he was initially remanded until July 24.
Following the Chief Magistrate's directive, police calculated the financial impact of the extended outage. The Ceylon Electricity Board reported losses totaling Rs. 201,059.90 due to the power disruption. When the case was recalled on July 28, the suspect acknowledged his involvement in the incident. The court subsequently ordered him to compensate the utility for the documented losses.
The case has been adjourned until November 3, 2026 for further proceedings, with the compensation order now in effect.
