Power Cuts Continue in Sri Lanka as Nation Scrambles to Restore Grid
Monkey’s Mishap Causes Widespread Blackout in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is facing its third consecutive day of power cuts as it struggles to restore its national grid to full capacity following a widespread blackout over the weekend. The blackout, which affected the entire nation’s 22 million people, was caused by a monkey that disrupted a grid station in a Colombo suburb.
The Incident
According to Power Minister Kumara Jayakody, the six-hour outage on Sunday was a result of a curious monkey coming into contact with a transformer at the grid station. The animal’s actions disrupted the supply to the entire country, leaving residents in darkness.
Power Cuts Continue
To manage the peak demand hours in the night, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has implemented one-hour power cuts starting from 6 p.m. (1230 GMT). This is the third consecutive day of power cuts, following 90-minute cuts on Monday and Tuesday.
Impact on Power Plant
The blackout also affected the island’s only 900 MW coal-fired power plant, forcing it to operate in safe mode. The CEB is working to restore the grid to full capacity, but power cuts will be implemented to manage demand.
Investigation Underway
An investigation into the outage is being conducted by the energy ministry to determine the exact cause of the incident and to prevent future disruptions. The CEB has assured that 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.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka’s power crisis is a stark reminder of the importance of infrastructure reliability and the need for contingency plans in place to mitigate the impact of unexpected events. As the nation works to restore its grid to full capacity, residents are left to wonder how a simple misadventure by a curious monkey could have such far-reaching consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the cause of the power outage in Sri Lanka?
A: A curious monkey disrupted a grid station in a Colombo suburb, causing the blackout.
Q: How long did the power outage last?
A: The six-hour outage on Sunday was the longest, but 90-minute power cuts were implemented on Monday and Tuesday.
Q: What is being done to restore the grid to full capacity?
A: The Ceylon Electricity Board is working to restore the grid, and power cuts will be implemented to manage peak demand hours in the night.
Q: Is an investigation underway?
A: Yes, the energy ministry is conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident and to prevent future disruptions.