Monkey caused nation-wide power outage, says Sri Lanka minister

A minister in Sri Lanka has blamed a nation-wide power outage in the island nation on a monkey that he said entered a main grid near Colombo. 

"A monkey has come in contact with our grid transformer, causing an imbalance in the system," Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told members of the media on Sunday. 

Electricity across the country disappeared around 11:00 am on Sunday, leaving most of its 22 million inhabitants without power for almost a full day. 

While electricity is gradually being restored across the country, hospitals, clinics and water plants are being prioritised. 

Sri Lanka went through multiple blackouts when it defaulted in 2022, leading to many relying on generators for their electric needs. While the country has greatly recovered from the tumultuous from the financial crisis, the power grid remains in a precarious position.