A monkey’s intrusion at an electrical sub-station in Sri Lanka triggered a nationwide power outage on Sunday, officials confirmed. The blackout, which began at approximately 11:30 AM local time, left millions without electricity and caused water supply disruptions across the country.

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody stated that the monkey came into contact with a grid transformer, leading to an imbalance in the system and causing a general power failure. The incident occurred in a suburb south of Colombo.

The power outage lasted for several hours before authorities were able to restore electricity across the nation. By 6:00 PM local time, normalcy had returned, according to Sri Lankan news outlet Daily Mirror.

In addition to power disruptions, the blackout also led to water supply interruptions, affecting daily life for many citizens. While authorities worked swiftly to resolve the situation, the incident raised concerns about the vulnerability of the nation’s electrical grid.

This is not the first time Sri Lanka has faced significant power outages. During the economic crisis of 2022, prolonged blackouts lasting up to 13 hours a day plagued the country due to fuel shortages that crippled thermal power stations.

Officials have yet to comment on any measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, but the event highlights the need for improved security and maintenance at critical infrastructure points.
 

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