COLOMBO: A major power outage in Sri Lanka disrupted daily life, with officials initially blaming an unusual culprit—a monkey.
The blackout affected the entire country, forcing hospitals to cancel multiple surgeries.
Sri Lankan authorities reported that a technical failure hit the Ceylon Electricity Board’s grid station in southern Colombo at 11 AM.
Engineers and staff worked for three hours before restoring power, though some areas remain without electricity.
Ongoing Restoration
Officials confirmed that teams are still working to restore power in the remaining affected regions.
The incident caused massive disruption, with businesses and essential services struggling due to the sudden electricity failure.
Public transport also faced difficulties as traffic lights and railway systems briefly shut down.
Citizens expressed frustration over the recurring power issues that have plagued the country in recent months.
Unexpected Culprit
In a bizarre twist, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody blamed the outage on a monkey entering the grid station.
The animal reportedly tampered with electrical equipment, triggering the widespread disruption across Sri Lanka.
Officials have not provided further details on how exactly the monkey caused such a large-scale power failure.
This is not the first time animals have interfered with power infrastructure, causing outages in various countries.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the monkey was the sole cause of the blackout.
Some experts argue that the power grid’s vulnerability needs urgent attention to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The government has assured citizens that preventive measures will be introduced to secure electrical facilities.
For now, Sri Lankans remain baffled by how a small animal managed to paralyze an entire nation’s power system.
