Minister defends monkey scuffle theory amid blackout controversy

3 March 2025 08:04 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 12 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, March 03 (Daily Mirror) - Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody reaffirmed that no one had ruled out that a monkey scuffle caused the recent all-island blackout on February 18.

He was responding in Parliament to Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dissanayake that contradictory remarks had been made by the Minister and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) regarding the power failure. Mr. Dasanayake said the CEB, in its statement, did not refer to a monkey scuffle, whereas the Minister cited it as the reason.

Minister Jayakody said the CEB only said the blackout was triggered by a disturbance, and there was no denial of monkey scuffle in the statement. “The statement from CEB has indirectly referred to monkey scuffle,” the Minister said.

He said there is video evidence of what happened, and he would present it if needed.

Comments - 12

Rip Winkle Monday, 03 March 2025 08:31 PM

The minister ought to have said that he'd been provided with incorrect information instead of creating more bs to cover up the bs explanation about monkeys. Seems like AKD is surrounded with 'wanduras' and 'booruwas'.

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loyal Monday, 03 March 2025 09:07 PM

No worries.. 59 million people are behind you. Keep lying..!

2 22

R Navaratnam Monday, 03 March 2025 09:16 PM

I am at a loss to understand why Minister has to get involved or comment about the reason for power outage. I consider it is the responsibility of the CEB. All government has to do is to punish CEB for the loss of revenue and inconvenience to people.

1 18

Dr. Dee esquire Monday, 03 March 2025 09:42 PM

Monkeys protecting their head of the pack!

2 18

Iwazaru Monday, 03 March 2025 09:53 PM

There is nothing to defend, it was the monkey that caused the disturbance to the CEB grid. I wonder if the opposition member has very experienced a NFB (no fuse breaker) or Earth Leakage breaker tripping when a rat or cockroach getting electrocuted in side an electric oven toaster, washing machine etc.

10 8

Dilakshan Seneviratne Tuesday, 04 March 2025 05:08 AM

Correct, the opposition talks bs, never to the point. Re your example, correct, but if CEB’ s circuit breaker had operated as it should have, the island wide blackout should have been avoided. It did not, and CEB is trying to cover that up by talking about solar power etc. Re the monkey, has CEB now looked at the risk of such incidents at all other substations like the Panadura one? This should have been done to manage risk. But with CEB, very unlikely, as they operate on another planet.

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Weary Tuesday, 04 March 2025 05:37 AM

Put me right off using toaster, oven and washing machine. The very idea of finding an electrocuted rat in the toaster makes me feel ill. Now visualising a toasted monkey, a spin dried rat, and a baked cockroach... thanks buddy. Incidentally RCBO's are far superior to ELCB's or MCB's. Go figure. Drawing parallels with domestic safety devices and the grid,

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fishy Tuesday, 04 March 2025 06:35 AM

Affecting all island toaster!? this is monkey business.

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Russel Harmmer Tuesday, 04 March 2025 08:46 AM

True Mr. Minister, only Namal was backing all the opposition members to manipulate the monkey story for the power cut and played a drama. No one was bothered at all.

2 1

Nicolos M.. J. James Tuesday, 04 March 2025 10:47 AM

Yes, even the 3 wheel operator in Colombo knows that Namal was behind the scene and creating a displeasure and to disturb AKD's good work. Before that Namal Rajapakshe should be arrested, and this is our public

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Damian Martin - Senior Journalist Tuesday, 04 March 2025 08:48 AM

Not by the Govt. or any ministers, but because of SLPP wants to destroy the good work carried out by AKD and NPP they fabricated a fake story.

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Lol Tuesday, 04 March 2025 12:26 PM

Some monkey business is going on as we can see! Sri Lanka has become the laughing stock of the world, once again!

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