Sri Lanka’s fuel rationing plan amid severe shortage

GBNews24 Desk//

Sri Lanka will restrict fuel imports for the next 12 months as it is facing a severe shortage of foreign exchange, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has said while announcing a rationing system for the distribution of fuel across the crisis-hit island nation.

Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people, is under the grip of an unprecedented economic turmoil, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine, fuel and other essentials.

The severe foreign exchange shortage has hampered the import of fuel and other essentials in the country reeling under the worst economic crisis in seven decades.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Wijesekera said a QR system has been introduced as the daily fuel demand cannot be fulfilled.

“QR system was introduced since the daily fuel demand cannot be fulfilled. Due to Forex issues, Fuel imports have to be restricted in the next 12 months,” he said.

“Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has never distributed Fuel daily to Every single Fuel Station. Practically not possible even when stocks are unlimited,” he said.

With the government hard pressed to pay for fuel imports due to the severe forex crisis, it introduced a fuel pass scheme on Saturday where the issues would be rationed under a limited weekly quantity.

Since June 27 the government has stopped fuel supplies and restricted essential services.