Monkey causes nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka, energy ministr says

A monkey triggered a nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka after coming into contact with a transformer at a power station in southern Colombo, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody announced.

The incident disrupted electricity for the country’s 22 million residents, with hospitals and water treatment plants prioritized during the restoration process.

According to media outlets, Sri Lankans took to social media to express frustration and mock authorities over the unusual cause of the blackout. The incident also reignited concerns over the growing monkey population, which has been blamed for damaging crops and invading villages.

In response to increasing conflicts between humans and wildlife, the Sri Lankan government recently decided to export over 100,000 macaques to China. While this aims to reduce the impact on agriculture and communities, questions remain about long-term wildlife management strategies.