Monkey Blamed for Nationwide Blackout in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka, affecting approximately 22 million people, was reportedly triggered by a monkey that came into contact with a grid transformer. The incident occurred around midday on Sunday, leaving many citizens sweltering in temperatures over 30C (86F).

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody confirmed the unusual cause of the blackout, stating, “A monkey came into contact with our grid transformer, causing an imbalance in the power system.” Engineers swiftly worked to restore power, prioritizing critical facilities such as hospitals and water purification plants.

While some areas regained electricity after a few hours, many households without backup generators remained in the dark well into the night. This heightened concerns, as the outage occurred during a particularly intense heatwave.

Social media users were quick to react, sharing humor about the situation amid criticism of the country’s fragile power infrastructure. One user quipped, “One monkey = total chaos. Time to rethink infrastructure?” Another suggested, “Only in Sri Lanka can a monkey knock out the entire nation’s electricity.”

The incident has raised serious questions about the stability of Sri Lanka’s power grid, which experts say is outdated. “The national power grid is in such a weakened state that frequent island-wide power outages may be expected if there is a disturbance in one of our lines,” warned an unnamed senior engineer, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

Sri Lanka has experienced a series of power shortages, most notably in 2022 when rolling blackouts became common due to a severe economic crisis and fuel shortages. In light of the latest blackout, the Ceylon Electricity Board issued an apology but did not specify how a single incident could have such widespread repercussions.

Compounding the issue is the increasing population of monkeys on the island, specifically the toque macaque, which is estimated to be between 2 and 3 million. As human settlements expand into their habitats, these primates frequently raid villages for food, causing property damage and affecting agriculture. The government has even considered exporting some of these monkeys to manage their population.

As of now, there are no updates regarding the condition of the monkey involved in the incident. However, experts agree that this peculiar event underscores the urgent need for comprehensive upgrades to Sri Lanka’s electrical infrastructure.