While mainstream media has fallen silent on the Dutch Uprising, there’s another country on the brink of collapse that nobody is talking about.
That country is Sri Lanka.
The South Asian country is facing its worst economic crisis in history.
Sri Lanka’s energy minister said the nation’s fuel supplies will run out in a few days, forcing nationwide school closures and prolonged power cuts.
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As a result, petrol and diesel is being limited to “essential services” like healthcare and public transport.
In addition, skyrocketing prices are causing an unbearable financial crisis for the island nation.
The cost of food, medicine, and other essentials has risen dramatically across the country and it’s leading to mass riots in the streets.
Petrol stations are reportedly being guarded by the army to prevent ordinary citizens from buying fuel.
Only ‘essential vehicles’ can refill, leaving millions without transportation and unable to work.
SRI LANKA – petrol stations are now guarded by the army to prevent ordinary citizens from buying petrol. Only ‘essential’ vehicles can refill. Leaving millions without any transportation and unable to work.
I bet footballers are considered ‘essential’pic.twitter.com/tmL03meFD1
— Elander & the News (@ElanderNews) July 5, 2022
#SriLanka #SouthandcentralAsia Sri Lanka limits fuel to essential services with supplies set to run out in days: Miles-long queues outside petrol stations despite ban on sales for private vehicles for at least a week
Sri Lanka’s energy minister has… https://t.co/HdaRqhB6PZ
— Bala Danmeri (@cybereverest) July 4, 2022
From The Guardian:
Kanchana Wijesekera said fuel stocks were enough to last less than a day under current demand, and petrol and diesel was being limited to essential services such a healthcare and public transport in order to stretch out the remaining supplies for a few more days and ensure the country did not shut down entirely.
Sales of fuel for private vehicles have been banned for at least the next week, but outside petrol stations across the country there were still miles-long queues of vehicles.
The fuel crisis is affecting almost every element of life in Sri Lanka, preventing people from being able to go to work and school. On Sunday, school closures in Colombo and other major cities were extended for another week as teachers and pupils have been unable to travel to classrooms. Power cuts lasting up to 14 hours have been imposed to preserve fuel.
Another shipment of diesel is due at the weekend and petrol is due in two weeks, but Wijesekera admitted Sri Lanka did not have the money to pay for the shipments. They will total about $587m, and the country has only $125m left in the bank.
Protestors poured into the streets over the soaring prices and fuel shortages.
WATCH:
VIDEO : Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest opposite the President's House in Fort, Colombo – Reporter#lka #SriLanka #SLnews #News1st #ProtestLK #CrisisLK #EconomyLK pic.twitter.com/hDP5Rlbkk5
— Newsfirst.lk Sri Lanka (@NewsfirstSL) July 6, 2022
https://twitter.com/21stCenturyWire/status/1544473671925829632
People waiting for gasoline in Sri Lanka.
Their government adopted ESG. Now people are starving and there are lines to buy the most basic stuff.
Don’t let it happen here. Embrace nuclear energy!pic.twitter.com/XGbCRi69jv
— Jeet Sidhu (@jeetsidhu_) July 1, 2022
#SriLanka is collapsing
Faced with a severe oil shortage, the government has suspended fuel sales for non-essential vehicles. Shortages, power cuts, galloping inflation, the #SriLanka is sinking a little more into the crisis every day pic.twitter.com/pkc3qjfCDH
— The World Reviews (@tworldreviews) July 4, 2022
⛽️❌FUEL CRISIS SL – Supermarkets in the dark as generators run out of diesel for power supply.
Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis aggravates by the minute with most of the nation spending days in fuel queues and wait impatiently for the next shipment to arrive. #lka #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/olc3E6Weaa
— Dasuni Athauda (@AthaudaDasuni) July 6, 2022
Reuters added:
Hundreds of protesters gathered near the parliament building were hit with water cannon and tear gas as they launch what they call the ‘final push’ of the struggle to topple the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The Protests have been led by young people and supported by opposition political parties, trade union and civil society activists and ordinary civilians.
People have been suffering from shortages of fuel, power, food and other items for weeks, and doctors say the entire health system could now collapse.
Rajapaksa’s various moves – including securing financial support from India and China – have failed to end the shortages or the spontaneous street protests across the country.
Rajapaska on Wednesday said he urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin to help his cash-strapped island nation import fuel.
Sri Lanka has already bought oil from Russia to tide it over the crisis, and the government has indicated it is willing to make further purchases.
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