Colombo: A total of 13 people have died while waiting in long queues for fuel Sri Lanka Since the worst economic crisis started earlier this year.
A 60-year-old man was found dead in his car in Colombo on Monday as he waited for his turn at a fuel station. Lanka Indian Oil Company ,IOC,
“He had a conversation with me and wanted to take some pills and got into the car. But later when I called him, he didn’t answer,” a man standing in the same queue told reporters.
The incident comes as Sri Lanka suspended the sale of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles on June 27 as it struggled to pay for imports such as fuel, food and medicines.
Experts believe it is the first country to take the drastic step of stopping the sale of petrol to the general public since the oil crisis of the 1970s, when the fuel was rationed in the US and Europe.
In the wake of the suspension, several kilometer long queues, some that lasted for days, were seen across the island nation at IOC-run fuel stations, while roads remained isolated without any vehicles.
The country has come to a standstill without transport, while government offices were barely functioning and schools were completely closed.
Struggling to supply fuel for transport, the government earlier announced four days of work in the week, but two weeks of work from home from June 27.
on Sunday, energy Minister Kanchana vijesekera Issuing a stern warning, the country has 12,774 tonnes of diesel and 4,061 tonnes of petrol left in its reserves.
“The next petrol shipment is expected between 22 and 23 (of July),” he told reporters here.
He said Sri Lanka’s central bank could only supply $125 million for fuel purchases, far less than the $587 million needed for scheduled shipments.
Wijesekera said the country owed $800 million to seven suppliers for purchases made earlier this year.
With less than $50 million in foreign reserves, Sri Lanka owes more than $587 million to several foreign oil companies for fuel imports.
In the past six months, Sri Lanka was dependent on India’s financial assistance of $3.5 billion, which was released to buy fuel.
The island country of 22 million people is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948 as it lacks enough foreign exchange to pay for imports of essential goods.
The acute shortage of fuel, food and medicines has helped drive the cost of living to record highs in the country, where many depend on motor vehicles for their livelihood.
A 60-year-old man was found dead in his car in Colombo on Monday as he waited for his turn at a fuel station. Lanka Indian Oil Company ,IOC,
“He had a conversation with me and wanted to take some pills and got into the car. But later when I called him, he didn’t answer,” a man standing in the same queue told reporters.
The incident comes as Sri Lanka suspended the sale of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles on June 27 as it struggled to pay for imports such as fuel, food and medicines.
Experts believe it is the first country to take the drastic step of stopping the sale of petrol to the general public since the oil crisis of the 1970s, when the fuel was rationed in the US and Europe.
In the wake of the suspension, several kilometer long queues, some that lasted for days, were seen across the island nation at IOC-run fuel stations, while roads remained isolated without any vehicles.
The country has come to a standstill without transport, while government offices were barely functioning and schools were completely closed.
Struggling to supply fuel for transport, the government earlier announced four days of work in the week, but two weeks of work from home from June 27.
on Sunday, energy Minister Kanchana vijesekera Issuing a stern warning, the country has 12,774 tonnes of diesel and 4,061 tonnes of petrol left in its reserves.
“The next petrol shipment is expected between 22 and 23 (of July),” he told reporters here.
He said Sri Lanka’s central bank could only supply $125 million for fuel purchases, far less than the $587 million needed for scheduled shipments.
Wijesekera said the country owed $800 million to seven suppliers for purchases made earlier this year.
With less than $50 million in foreign reserves, Sri Lanka owes more than $587 million to several foreign oil companies for fuel imports.
In the past six months, Sri Lanka was dependent on India’s financial assistance of $3.5 billion, which was released to buy fuel.
The island country of 22 million people is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948 as it lacks enough foreign exchange to pay for imports of essential goods.
The acute shortage of fuel, food and medicines has helped drive the cost of living to record highs in the country, where many depend on motor vehicles for their livelihood.