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Sri Lanka Stops Fuel Supply to Non-Essential Services as Crisis Worsens

A member of Sri Lankan security personnel stands guard outside a fuel station that ran out of gasoline in Colombo on June 27, 2022. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

A minister said Sri Lanka would close schools and allow only fuel supplies to services deemed essential, such as medical care, trains and buses, for two weeks from Tuesday as the country grapples with severe shortages.


Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis, foreign exchange reserves are at record lows, and the island of 22 million people is struggling to pay for food, medicine and, most importantly, fuel imports.


Industries such as clothing are a big source of income for the Indian Ocean country, and fuel can only last a week to 10 days. Based on regular demand, Reuters calculations show that the country’s current inventories will be depleted in less than a week.

From Tuesday until July 10, Sri Lanka will only allocate fuel for trains and buses, medical services and vehicles delivering food, government cabinet spokesman Bandura Gunewardena told reporters.

He said schools in urban areas would be closed and urged everyone to work from home. Interprovincial bus service will be limited. “Never in its history has Sri Lanka faced such a severe economic crisis,” Gunnevardner said.

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