Employees were given leave and schools closed .. Sri Lanka faces collapse due to running out of fuel!
In the midst of an economic crisis afflicting the country, Sri Lanka announced that it "almost run out" of gasoline and diesel, after delaying many expected shipments, announcing the increase in the price of fuel by up to 22 percent.
Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera apologized to motorists on Saturday, saying that "oil shipments that were scheduled to arrive last week did not turn up, while shipments that were scheduled to arrive next week will not reach Sri Lanka for financial reasons."
He pointed out that "the scarce supplies remaining in the country will be distributed through a few pumping stations," and urged motorists "not to stand in queues for fuel."
The minister explained that "(Cylon) Petroleum Corporation cannot determine the date of the arrival of new oil supplies" to the island country, noting that "the company closed its only refinery due to a shortage of crude oil," according to the British newspaper, "The Guardian".
For its part, "Cylon Petroleum Corporation" announced, on Sunday, that it raised the price of diesel, widely used in public transport, by 15 percent to 460 rupees ($ 1.27) per liter, while it increased gasoline by 22 percent to 550 rupees ($ 1.52). ).
The United Nations has issued an emergency appeal for $47 million to "feed the most vulnerable" of the island's 22 million people.
About 1.7 million people are in need of "life-saving assistance", according to the United Nations, with 4 in 5 people having to reduce their food consumption due to acute food shortages and rising prices.
The government closed non-essential government institutions, along with schools, for a period of two weeks, to reduce mobility due to the energy crisis, as well as granting public servants leave to "grow food".
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