Colombo: Schools have been closed in Sri Lanka due to severe fuel shortages. The government also told non-essential government officials not to come to work on Fridays as there were no travel arrangements. The severe shortage of cooking gas will also put kitchens in crisis in the coming days. The clashes erupted when several petrol pumps tried to sell limited stock. In some centers, people blocked the road.
The country is unable to pay $ 7 billion in foreign debt repayments. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been told that there is an urgent need for $ 7.5 billion for the import of essential commodities alone. But the country does not even have $ 1 billion. The Prime Minister warned that the days of food scarcity were imminent in the country. This will continue to affect food production next year.
Meanwhile, nine new ministers were sworn in. This brings the number of ministers to 13. But in a country where the economy is in shambles, no finance minister has been appointed. The inclusion of the new ministers is part of a series of cabinet reshuffles following the inauguration of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. Two of the ministers are from the main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB). The rest are from the ruling Sri Lanka People’s Alliance. The SJB has stated that it will take action against those who joined the cabinet, ignoring the decision of the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa.
This is the fourth time that Gotabhaya’s cabinet has been disbanded due to the financial crisis.
English Summary: Sri Lanka closes schools, limits work amid fuel shortage