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Energy Minister Kanchana Wijeskira apologized to motorists on Saturday, saying that "oil shipments The shipments that were scheduled to arrive last week did not show up, while the shipments that were scheduled to arrive next week will not arrive. Sri Lanka for financial reasons".
He pointed out that "The scarce supplies remaining in the country will be distributed through a few pumping stations".
He also explained that "Public transportation will be given priority andPower generation"urging motorists to "Not queuing to get in fuel".
The minister explained that "(Company) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, cannot specify an arrival date oil supply the new" To the island country, indicating that "The company closed its only refinery due to a shortage of crude oil"According to the newspaper, "Guardian" British.
The refinery began operating earlier this June, using 90,000 tons of Russian crude oil, which was purchased through "Coral Energy" On credit terms for two months.
For its part, announced "Ceylon Petroleum Corporation"Sunday, they raised the price dieselwidely used on public transport, increased 15 percent to 460 rupees ($1.27) a liter, while gasoline increased 22 percent to 550 rupees ($1.52)..
As part of international efforts to help Sri Lanka, the US Embassy in Colombo announced that a delegation from the US Treasury and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had arrived for talks. "To explore the most effective way for the United States to support Sri Lankans in need".
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said: "At a time when Sri Lankans are enduring some of the greatest economic challenges in their history, our efforts to support economic growth and strengthen democratic institutions have never been more important.".
The embassy indicated that it has allocated 158.75 million dollars in the past two weeks, to help Sri Lankans.
The United Nations issued an emergency appeal for $47 million. "To feed the most vulnerable" Of the island’s population of 22 million people.
About 1.7 million people need "Lifesaving aid"according to the United Nations, with 4 out of 5 people having to reduce their food consumption due to severe food shortages and rising prices..
Sri Lanka is facing a serious shortage of foreign exchange to finance even the most important imports, including food, fuel and medicine, and is now seeking international aid..
The repercussions of the deepening crisis
Last week, troops opened fire to quell riots at a gas station in Visuvamadou, north of Colombo. Police said 4 civilians and 3 soldiers were wounded, the first time the army used live ammunition to contain unrest linked to the deepening economic crisis..
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 employees leave "to grow food".
Several hospitals across the country have also reported a sharp drop in medical staff attendance, due to fuel shortages.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned parliament that the South Asian country of 22 million people would continue to struggle for a few more months, urging people to use the fuel. "moderately".
And he said: "Our economy has faced a complete collapse. We are now facing a much more dangerous situation, which goes beyond the mere shortage of fuel, gas, electricity and food".
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Energy Minister Kanchana Wijeskira apologized to motorists on Saturday, saying that “oil shipments The shipments that were scheduled to arrive last week did not show up, while the shipments that were scheduled to arrive next week will not arrive. Sri Lanka for financial reasons.
He pointed out that “the scarce supplies remaining in the country will be distributed through a few pumping stations.”.
He also explained that “priority will be given to public transport andPower generation‘, urging motorists to ‘not queue up to get fuel“.
The minister explained that “(Cylon Petroleum Corporation) cannot determine the date of arrival oil supply The new “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”.
The refinery began operating earlier this June, using 90,000 tons of Russian crude oil, purchased through Coral Energy on credit terms for two months..
On the other hand, it declaredCeylon Petroleum Corporation“Sunday, they raised the price dieselwidely used on public transport, increased 15 percent to 460 rupees ($1.27) a liter, while gasoline increased 22 percent to 550 rupees ($1.52)..
As part of international efforts to help Sri Lanka, the US Embassy in Colombo announced that a delegation from the US Treasury and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived for talks “to explore the most effective ways for the United States to support Sri Lankans in need.”.
“At a time when Sri Lankans are enduring some of the greatest economic challenges in their history, our efforts to support economic growth and strengthen democratic institutions have never been more important,” said US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung.
The embassy indicated that it has allocated 158.75 million dollars in the past two weeks, to help Sri Lankans.
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..
Sri Lanka is facing a serious shortage of foreign exchange to finance even the most important imports, including food, fuel and medicine, and is now seeking international aid..
The repercussions of the deepening crisis
Last week, troops opened fire to quell riots at a gas station in Visuvamadou, north of Colombo. Police said 4 civilians and 3 soldiers were wounded, the first time the army used live ammunition to contain unrest linked to the deepening economic crisis..
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 employees leave to “growing food”..
Several hospitals across the country have also reported a sharp drop in medical staff attendance, due to fuel shortages.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned parliament that the South Asian country of 22 million people would continue to struggle for a few more months, urging people to use fuel “in moderation”..
“Our economy has faced a complete collapse,” he said. “We are now facing a much more dangerous situation, which goes beyond just a lack of fuel, gas, electricity and food.”