Sri Lanka Runs Out Of Fuel, Only Essential Services To Operate Till July 10

Sri Lanka: All non-essential services have been suspended till July 10.

Sri Lanka, hit by a massive economic crisis, has run out of fuel and only essential services will operate starting midnight. The list of essential services will include health, law and order, ports, airport, food distribution and agriculture. All non-essential services have been suspended till July 10, and the existing fuel reserves have been reserved for the essential services. The government has also introduced a token system to distribute the fuel.

"From midnight today, no fuel will be sold except for essential services like the health sector, because we want to conserve the little reserves we have," government spokesman Bandula Gunawardana was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Schools will remain shut and employees of private offices have been asked to work from home. Government officials have been asked to opt for work from home.

This is the first time the island nation of 22 million people has run out of fuel. Since the beginning of this year, the price of fuel has jumped five-fold. The last price hike took place yesterday.