Did 1 Monkey Really Cause Sri Lanka’s 10-Hour Nationwide Power Cut? Minister’s Claim Sparks Debate

Colombo, Sri Lanka – February 10, 2025

Sri Lanka was plunged into darkness earlier this week when a nationwide power outage disrupted daily life for millions. However, the explanation for the blackout has raised eyebrows across the country. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody has blamed the incident on an unlikely culprit—a monkey.

What Exactly Happened?

The power outage, which began on the evening of February 9, lasted for several hours, affecting homes, businesses, and essential services. Reports indicate that the disruption originated from the Panadura power station, located south of Colombo. Minister Jayakody later stated that the failure was caused when a monkey came into contact with a grid transformer, leading to an electrical imbalance that triggered cascading failures across the power network.

Local news outlets reported that more than 22 million residents were affected by the power cut, which lasted approximately 10 hours in some areas. This sudden outage forced hospitals to rely on backup generators, disrupted telecommunications, and left countless small businesses in financial distress. Public transport was also thrown into chaos as railway services and traffic signals ceased functioning, leading to congestion in major cities.

A History of Infrastructure Failures

This is not the first time Sri Lanka has suffered a widespread blackout. Over the past decade, the country has faced multiple power failures due to poor infrastructure, technical malfunctions, and fuel shortages. The most notable blackout occurred in 2016, when a failure at the Kerawalapitiya Grid Substation caused the worst electricity outage in 20 years, leaving the entire nation without power for several hours. Similar incidents were recorded in 2021 and 2022, raising serious concerns about the state of the power grid.

Blaming a monkey for a nationwide failure has left many citizens questioning the reliability of the nation’s power grid and the explanations provided by authorities. This latest power cut has reignited debates over whether successive governments have done enough to upgrade Sri Lanka’s aging power infrastructure and prevent such disruptions in the future.

Public Reactions and Political Ramifications

The minister’s statement has been met with skepticism and humor on social media. Many Sri Lankans have taken to Twitter and Facebook to mock the claim, with some joking that the government should improve its infrastructure instead of blaming animals. Hashtags like #MonkeyBusiness and #PowerFail began trending within hours of the announcement.

“I suppose next time they’ll blame an elephant for a water shortage,” tweeted one frustrated citizen. Another posted a meme comparing Sri Lanka’s power grid to a house of cards—easily toppled by the slightest disturbance.

Political opposition leaders have also weighed in, calling for an independent investigation into the real cause of the blackout. Opposition MP Ruwan Perera stated, “The government cannot continue to shift blame for its failures. If a single monkey can collapse our power grid, what does that say about our infrastructure?”

Critics have accused the government of using the incident as a distraction from ongoing corruption scandals and mismanagement in the energy sector. Some opposition members have suggested that irregularities in power procurement contracts could be a more plausible explanation for the outage, rather than an unfortunate encounter between a monkey and a transformer.

Experts Weigh In

Energy experts and engineers have cast doubt on the explanation, arguing that while an animal could theoretically cause a localized failure, it is unlikely that a monkey alone could trigger a nationwide blackout. Power grid specialists have pointed to outdated equipment, lack of investment, and poor maintenance in the energy sector as more probable causes.

Professor Nishantha Fernando, an electrical engineering expert from the University of Moratuwa, explained, “While animal interference can damage electrical systems, a well-maintained national grid should be able to contain such incidents without causing total system failure. This points to deeper structural issues.”

Many experts believe Sri Lanka’s heavy reliance on thermal power and hydropower, without adequate diversification into renewable energy sources, has made the system more vulnerable to breakdowns. Additionally, fuel shortages and delayed infrastructure upgrades due to financial constraints have further exacerbated the situation.

Economic Consequences of the Blackout

The blackout has also dealt a significant blow to the economy. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy, reported significant losses due to halted production, missed orders, and damaged perishable goods.

The garment industry, one of the country’s biggest export sectors, was also affected, with some factories forced to halt production for the duration of the power cut. Business owners are calling for compensation from the government, arguing that frequent power failures make it difficult to maintain international competitiveness.

The stock market also suffered a temporary setback as trading was briefly disrupted. The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) saw a drop in investor confidence, with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) declining by 1.2% following the blackout.

Government Response and Next Steps

In response to the backlash, the government has announced an inquiry into the outage. Minister Jayakody has since clarified that while the monkey incident may have been a contributing factor, the underlying issues will be examined to prevent future blackouts. He assured the public that the Energy Ministry will work with Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) engineers to identify vulnerabilities in the grid and implement necessary upgrades.

However, given Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis, many citizens doubt whether the government has the financial resources to undertake large-scale improvements to the power infrastructure. The country has been facing an energy crisis since 2022, when foreign reserves dried up, limiting its ability to import fuel for power generation.

International Reactions and Assistance

Sri Lanka’s frequent power failures have drawn attention from international partners. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have previously provided funding for grid modernization projects, but slow implementation has hindered progress. India, which has historically assisted Sri Lanka in times of crisis, has offered technical expertise to help upgrade the country’s power infrastructure.

China, another key partner, has expressed willingness to invest in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector, particularly solar and wind energy projects, to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. However, concerns remain over Sri Lanka’s growing debt to China and whether additional investments will come with political strings attached.

Final Thoughts: A Wake-Up Call for Sri Lanka?

Regardless of whether a monkey was truly responsible for the power cut, the incident has reignited concerns about the country’s electricity infrastructure. While the government scrambles to restore public confidence, Sri Lankans are left wondering: Is their power grid really so fragile that a single animal could bring the entire nation to a halt?

As Sri Lanka looks toward long-term solutions, experts stress that a modern, resilient, and diversified power system is essential to prevent further disruptions. Whether the government will take concrete action or simply wait for the next unexpected blackout remains to be seen.