Image source, Getty ImagesThe minister of energy warned that the country's fuel stocks were at risk as it faced its worst economic crisis in 70 years.
Kanchana Wijesekera said on Sunday that the nation only had enough petrol for a day or two.
The next shipment of petrol was not due for more than a week.
Sri Lanka stopped selling petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles last week as it struggles to pay for imports.
The country has over 12,700 metric ton of diesel and over 4,000 metric ton of petrol in its reserves, according to Mr. Wijesekera.
He said that the next shipment of petrol would be between the 22nd and 23rd of July.
The country does not have enough money to pay for fuel and crude oil imports and a shipment of diesel is expected at the weekend.
The central bank could only supply $125m for fuel purchases, far less than the $587m needed for its scheduled shipments.
The country owes $800 million to seven suppliers for purchases it made earlier this year, according to Mr. Wijesekera.
There was a ban on the sale of fuel for private vehicles in SriLanka.
It is thought to be the first country to stop selling petrol to the average person since the 1970s oil crisis.
Since gaining independence from the UK in 1948, the island nation of 22 million people has faced an economic crisis as it lacks enough foreign currency to pay for imports.
Acute shortages of fuel, food and medicines have pushed up the cost of living to record highs in the country, where many people rely on motor vehicles for their livelihoods.
A team from the International Monetary Fund concluded a new round of talks with SriLanka over a loan.
The team said in a statement that it had made progress on defining a macroeconomic and structural policy package.
The poor and vulnerable who are disproportionately affected by the crisis are the ones that it has seen the most.
The cash- strapped country has sent officials to the major energy producers in order to get cheap oil.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
