In an unexpected turn of events, a monkey’s intrusion at a Sri Lankan electrical sub-station led to a widespread power outage on Sunday, as confirmed by government officials. The blackout commenced around 11:30 am local time (0600 GMT) and persisted for over three hours in several regions.
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody addressed the media, stating, “A monkey has come in contact with our grid transformer, causing an imbalance in the system.” The incident occurred in a suburb south of Colombo. While efforts to restore electricity are underway, the exact duration for full restoration remains uncertain. “Engineers are attending to it to try and restore the service as soon as possible,” added Jayakody.
This incident brings back memories of the prolonged power cuts Sri Lankans endured during the economic crisis of 2022. During that period, fuel shortages forced thermal power stations to ration electricity, leading to daily outages lasting up to 13 hours. The crisis culminated in Sri Lanka defaulting on its $46 billion external debt in April 2022, after depleting its foreign exchange reserves needed for essential imports like food, fuel, and medicines. The economic turmoil led to significant political changes, including the resignation of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. His successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilize the economy.
In the latest political developments, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who assumed office after defeating Wickremesinghe in the September 2024 elections, has pledged to maintain the stringent austerity measures initiated by his predecessor. He is committed to continuing the four-year IMF bailout program and has successfully concluded a long-delayed debt restructuring with both bilateral and private creditors, effectively ending Sri Lanka’s status as a bankrupt nation.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the recent blackout, this incident underscores the vulnerabilities in Sri Lanka’s power infrastructure and the broader challenges the country faces in ensuring economic and political stability.
