A monkey intrusion at a substation in a southern suburb of Colombo led to a nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka on Sunday. The blackout began around 11:30 am local time and persisted for over three hours.
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody reported that the monkey came into contact with a grid transformer, causing an imbalance in the system. While power was restored in some areas, engineers are working diligently to fully restore electricity across the country.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar event in Kenya in 2016, where a monkey caused a nationwide blackout by tripping a transformer at the Gitaru hydroelectric power station.
Sri Lanka previously endured prolonged power outages during the economic crisis of 2022, when fuel shortages forced thermal power stations to ration electricity for up to 13 hours daily. The current administration continues to implement austerity measures and is committed to the ongoing International Monetary Fund bailout program.
