Sri Lanka Crisis: Unprecedented crisis in Sri Lanka, a ship laden with petrol is standing in the sea but there is no money to pay

Sri Lanka on Wednesday said a petrol-laden ship has been parked in its maritime zone for nearly two months but it does not have foreign currency to make payments. However, the government said that the country has sufficient stock of diesel. According to the report of online portal news first.lk, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera told Parliament that a vessel laden with petrol has been anchored in Sri Lankan waters since March 28. But, Sri Lanka does not have dollars available for payment to him.

refusal of the shipping company to ship

In addition, an amount of $53 million is also due for the same vessel for the last consignment in January 2022. The minister said that the shipping company has refused to release the ship till both the payments are settled. "That's why we requested people not to wait in line for fuel," he said. No problem with diesel. We have limited stock of petrol and are trying to distribute it for essential services, especially ambulances.

$53 million is needed for fuel imports

Wijesekera said it would take three more days from Friday to complete the distribution of petrol at all filling stations. In June, Sri Lanka will need $530 million for fuel imports. Even if the country gets the benefit of the Indian credit facility, it will still need more than $500 million for fuel purchases, compared to $150 million per month two years ago. Sri Lanka has to pay over $700 million for the last import consignment of fuel.

Mahinda reached Parliament for the first time after his resignation

Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attended Parliament for the first time on Wednesday, nine days after his resignation. He had to resign from the post of PM after violent clashes between his supporters and anti-government protesters.

Outrage over the distribution of rations by China

According to ANI, the distribution of dry rations by China to Sri Lanka amidst the shortage of essential commodities has caused outrage in the Foreign Service Officers Organization (FSOA). He says that China is trying to distribute dry rations like pulses and rice to impress foreign officials. According to the Colombo Gazette report, the Chinese Communist Party's symbol was printed on the ration bags being distributed by the Chinese government in the villages of Sri Lanka.

Majority of Sinhala expresses condolences to Tamil victims of the civil war

Hundreds of anti-government protesters from Sri Lanka's majority Sinhala community have offered condolences to the soldiers, Tamil civilians, and rebels killed in the civil war that ended 13 years ago. The violent agitation that began with the demand for making Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated region an independent country ended with the death of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran on May 18, 2009, after heavy bloodshed. Prabhakaran was killed by the Sri Lankan army.

Also Read: Sri Lanka Crisis: Efforts to revive the financially troubled Sri Lanka, from selling airlines to printing new currency