Sri Lanka raises fuel prices by 25% as war bites
The Hindu
Sri Lanka raises fuel prices by 25% amid ongoing West Asia conflict, impacting petrol and diesel costs significantly.
Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by 25% on Sunday (March 22, 2026), the second increase in two weeks, as the country prepared for more impact from the war in West Asia.
Regular petrol was increased to 398 rupees ($1.30) per litre, up from 317 rupees, while diesel, the fuel commonly used for public transport, rose by 79 rupees to 382.
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Last week, the government ordered an 8% increase in retail fuel prices and introduced rationing to limit consumption.
"We hope to achieve a 15% to 20% reduction in fuel consumption with the latest increase," an official at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said.
He said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told them last week that the country must prepare for a prolonged conflict in West Asia that could affect the island's energy supplies.
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