Sri Lankans tell of fears over fuel crisis amid economic collapse

Ban on fuel sales for non-essential vehicles has knock-on effect on everyday life

University students in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo attend a protest calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his alleged failure to address the economic crisis in the country. Protests have been rocking the country for more than two months as Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA

University students in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo attend a protest calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his alleged failure to address the economic crisis in the country. Protests have been rocking the country for more than two months as Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA

University students in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo attend a protest calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his alleged failure to address the economic crisis in the country. Protests have been rocking the country for more than two months as Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA

University students in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo attend a protest calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his alleged failure to address the economic crisis in the country. Protests have been rocking the country for more than two months as Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA

University students in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo attend a protest calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his alleged failure to address the economic crisis in the country. Protests have been rocking the country for more than two months as Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA

University students in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo attend a protest calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his alleged failure to address the economic crisis in the country. Protests have been rocking the country for more than two months as Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA

University students in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo attend a protest calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his alleged failure to address the economic crisis in the country. Protests have been rocking the country for more than two months as Sri Lanka faces its worst-ever economic crisis due to the lack of foreign reserves, resulting in severe shortages in food, fuel, medicine, and imported goods. EPA

Members of the Inter University Students' Federation demand for Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo. Reuters

Sri Lankans in the UAE fear fuel shortages will affect travel and worsen food shortages, making life difficult for their families back home as the island nation battles an economic crisis.

A ban on the sale of diesel and petrol to private vehicle owners has been enforced in the country and ordinary people are not permitted to purchase fuel until July 10.

The extraordinary measures were taken as the South Asian nation struggles to cope with its worst financial crisis in several decades.

Grocery stores near my home ran out of essentials like dal and rice — that has never happened before

Ajantha Premarathna,
Dubai resident

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament last week that the economy had “completely collapsed” as he issued a warning that the situation was serious and went beyond fuel, electricity and food shortages.

Officials said the country had less than a week’s worth of fuel and stocks required for essential services such as medical transport, trains and buses.

Schools remain shut and the country’s 22 million residents have been asked to work from home.

Catholic priests and sisters hold placards during a demonstration against the economic crisis in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. All photos: AFP

Catholic priests and sisters hold placards during a demonstration against the economic crisis in Colombo.

Protesters lash out after a surge of prices and a shortage of fuel and other essential commodities outside the president's office in Colombo.

All 26 Cabinet ministers resigned after thousands defied a national state of emergency and curfew, and joined street protests denouncing the government.

The curfew has been lifted but the president and his elder brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa continue to hold on to power.

Sri Lankans have endured long queues to buy fuel, cooking gas, foods and medicine, most of which come from abroad and are paid for in hard currency.

The fuel shortage has caused rolling power cuts lasting several hours a day.

The extent of the crisis became clear when Sri Lanka could not pay for imports of basic supplies because of its mounting debts and dwindling foreign reserves.

Sri Lanka’s usable foreign reserves reportedly amount to be less than $400 million, yet it is saddled with about $7 billion in foreign debt obligations for this year.

Police used water cannon to disperse angry protesters who marched toward the Rajapaksa family home in southern Sri Lanka, demanding that they quit.

The president had appealed to people to limit their use of power and ‘extend their support to the country’ but the crisis has intensified since the main opposition party rejected his call to form a unity government. Reuters

Concerns mount for Sri Lankans in UAE

Ranitha Fernando, a Dubai banker set to return to Sri Lanka during the summer holiday, is worried about reaching his home in Colombo, about an hour’s drive from the airport.

His relatives have been limiting travel as they cannot use private cars or bikes while regular taxis are not easily available due to the petrol crunch.

“I am worried if taxis will be available for us to reach home. There are very few private taxis operating and you need to wait a lot is what I have learnt,” he said.

“My in-laws use public transport, trains and buses to travel. Everyone is managing with whatever petrol they are left with.

“My family only leave the house for a specific purpose — to buy essentials, to see the doctor or go to the hospital. It has become very difficult.”

His suitcase is filled with essential medicines the family needs including drugs to treat fever, cholesterol and diabetes, and food items such as rice, lentils and cooking oil.

As with other Sri Lankan residents, Mr Fernando has shipped supplies to his family over the past few months.

“We have sent home solar lamps [and] infrared cookers to help them cook quickly,” he said. “You have to learn to adapt.”

Fuel and food are a lifeline

Armed Sri Lankan military personnel stand guard at a closed gas station amid a fuel shortage in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Photo: EPA

Sri Lankan expatriates send home money to family regularly but the situation is a growing cause of concern with the doubling of prices of basic items such as bread.

Dubai resident Ajantha Premarathna is constantly worried about food running out at home.

“Grocery stores near my home ran out of essentials like dal and rice — that has never happened before,” said the chartered quantity surveyor who offers advice on construction costs and has lived in the UAE for about 30 years.

“My brother called to say last week the stores were out of rice and vegetable oil. Fuel and gas are the lifeline for people.

“There may be stocks in one place but because transport is scarce, it will impact food and the entire chain.

“My family are so far OK but there is a worry about an imminent scarcity of food.”

Shortages prompt price surge

Acute shortages of food and medicine have sent prices soaring for ordinary Sri Lankans.

People stand in long queues for basic food items and complain of deepening power cuts after the country defaulted on its debt with international lenders for the first time in its history in May.

Unable to cope with rising energy prices and the coronavirus pandemic that affected tourism revenue, the country does not have sufficient foreign currency to pay for fuel, cooking gas, food and medicine imports.

Mr Wickremesinghe told parliament India was the principal source of foreign aid, supplying more than $4 billion in loans this year.

The World Bank has pledged $600 million to meet payments for essential imports and the country is in talks with the International Monetary Fund on a rescue package.

Neighbouring nations such as China and Indonesia have also pledged their assistance.

'Daily life is a challenge'

Riza Muhammed, chairman of the Sri Lankan Business Council, said the next two weeks would be crucial as the government has no option but to curtail fuel usage.

“Daily life is a challenge because transport is a problem, so people don’t have a normal life,” he said.

“There was a feeling that we had reached the bottom and [that] we would start seeing some relief, but that has not happened.

“It is the daily wage-earners who are going through the toughest time. People have to plan much in advance and are trying to prepare for these shocks to their system.”