https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-scrambles-restore-power-after-monkey-causes-islandwide-outage-2025-02-13/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv Skip to main content * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + Ukraine and Russia at War + United Kingdom + United States + Reuters NEXT * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth + Macro Matters * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact + COP29 * Legal Browse Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court * Breakingviews Browse Breakingviews + Breakingviews Predictions * Technology Browse Technology + Artificial Intelligence + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted * Investigations * More Sports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis ScienceLifestyleGraphicsPictures Wider ImagePodcastsFact CheckVideoSponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Press Releases Live My News Register Sri Lanka scrambles to restore power after monkey causes islandwide outage By Reuters February 13, 202510:17 AM UTCUpdated ago * * * * * * * * Employees from eletricity board pull electric cables on top of electricity posts in Piliyandala, Sri Lanka Employees from eletricity board pull electric cables on top of electricity posts in Piliyandala, Sri Lanka November 29, 2016. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab COLOMBO, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka extended power cuts for a third day on Thursday as it scrambled to restore its national grid to full capacity after a monkey triggered a widespread blackout over the weekend that disrupted supply to the island's 22 million people. An outage lasting six hours on Sunday was blamed by power minister, Kumara Jayakody, on a monkey that disrupted a grid station in a Colombo suburb. No power cuts were implemented on Wednesday, which was a holiday in Sri Lanka. The animal had come into contact with the transformer at the station, disrupting supply to the entire country. There were no immediate details on whether the monkey survived the incident. One-hour power cuts will be implemented from 6 p.m. (1230 GMT), the island's state-run power monopoly, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), said in a statement. Sunday's disruption also affected the island's only 900 MW coal fired power plant, causing it to operate in safe mode, the CEB said. "All efforts are being made to restore the grid to full capacity but power cuts will be implemented to manage peak demand hours in the night," the CEB statement added. Ninety-minute power cuts were implemented on Monday and Tuesday to manage demand. An investigation into the outage was being conducted by the energy ministry. Sign up here. 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