Fuel has become so scarce in Sri Lanka, which has been devastated by an economic crisis, that the government has decided to temporarily limit its supply to essential services such as health care and public transport. Schools in urban areas are also closed. As a solution to the fuel shortage, the cabinet will break with the duopoly that two energy companies have over the Sri Lankan fuel supply, Reuters news agency reported.
Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, analysts say. The South Asian country of more than 22 million people is struggling to pay for new food imports, medicines and — more crucially — fuel supplies. If Sri Lanka does not import new fuel quickly, the economically important clothing industry could come to a standstill in a week. That would only push the country further into trouble.
Also read: In Sri Lanka, the power is cut daily
Rows for the pump
Fuel has been scarce in Sri Lanka for some time, where in recent months there have been long queues at the pump in many places. A large proportion of people cannot work without fuel, so some waited for days at gas stations. Tensions there sometimes ran so high that the government called in the army to monitor. The government has ordered Sri Lankans to work from home, although not everyone can heed that call.
The economic “completely collapsed” country, according to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has also turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for help. Talks about a possible loan are still ongoing, but not everyone can wait for that. The Sri Lankan navy removed nearly 50 people from a boat that was illegally bound for Australia on Monday, Reuters said. According to the news agency, more than 120 people preceded them in the past two weeks.