Fuel Crisis in Sri Lanka Hits the Streets
Tokens for the Queue: A New Kind of Lottery
On Monday, June 27, Sri Lankan troops handed out tokens to folks standing around fuel stations in Colombo. Those tokens are basically a “you’re in‑line‑for‑the‑next‑pump” pass, because the country’s largest energy stash has been dwindling faster than a tourist’s last dash of oranges.
Meet 67‑Year‑Old Rickshaw Driver W.D. Shelton
“I’ve been in line for four days, I haven’t slept or eaten properly during this time,” Shelton says. “We can’t earn, we can’t feed our families.”
There’s a scarlet voicemail: Shelton was number 24 on the list, standing at a Colombo fuel station. He’s stuck there because he has no petrol to drive the 5 km that will take him home.
How Far Can the Government Stretch Its Fuel?
- Stockpiles: roughly 9,000 tonnes of diesel & 6,000 tonnes of petrol.
- No fresh shipments on the horizon.
- Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera doesn’t have the answer yet.
Law‑and‑Order & Living Conditions
- Public employees are told to work from home.
- Schools are shut for a week in Colombo and surrounding areas.
- Public transport, power plants and medical services are getting priority for the remaining fuel.
International Help on the Horizon
An IMF team is on its way to talk through a US$3 billion bailout package. Sri Lanka is hoping for a staff‑level agreement by Thursday, but the funds won’t be released any time soon.
So, while the nation is fighting its steepest economic crisis in seven decades, people are waiting in line, hoping that the next trip to the petrol station won’t be the last.
