Sri Lankans experienced an unexpected interruption in their daily routines when a monkey caused a nationwide power outage on Sunday, February 9. The power disruption began at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time and affected the entire island, with electricity fully restored around 6:00 p.m. local time. This incident occurred amid an ongoing economic crisis that had already forced citizens to endure prolonged electricity blackouts during the summer of 2022.
The disturbance originated in a south Colombo suburb, where a monkey inadvertently came into contact with a grid transformer at an electrical grid sub-station. This contact led to an imbalance in the electrical system, resulting in the islandwide blackout. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody addressed the incident, confirming the unusual cause of the outage.
"A monkey has come in contact with our grid transformer causing an imbalance in the system." – Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody
The power outage had significant repercussions across Sri Lanka. Fuel stations ran out of petrol and diesel, exacerbating the country's existing fuel shortages. Additionally, thermal power stations were compelled to ration electricity, limiting supply to just 13 hours each day. This situation underscored the fragility of Sri Lanka's energy infrastructure during a time of economic instability.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by Sri Lanka as it grapples with an economic downturn that has strained essential services. The Daily Mirror reported on the widespread impact of the blackout, noting the inconvenience and disruptions faced by residents across the nation.
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