Sri Lanka to ration fuel by issuing token numbers amid severe shortage-Xinhua

Sri Lanka to ration fuel by issuing token numbers amid severe shortage

Source: Xinhua| 2022-06-26 17:57:59|Editor: huaxia

A military personnel issues tokens for consumers who queue up at a fuel station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 27, 2022. Fuel filling stations across the country started issuing tokens for consumers from Monday as only limited stocks of fuel were available. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said on Sunday that fuel filling stations across the country will issue tokens for consumers from Monday as only limited stocks of fuel were available.

Speaking to journalists in Colombo, Wijesekera said that the assistance of the Sri Lankan army and police had been sought and token numbers would be given to the public to fill petrol and diesel as only limited quantities were available.

The public was requested to register their mobile numbers at their nearest filling stations and once their numbers were issued, they would be notified.

Wijesekera said that the date of the arrival of the next fuel shipments in the county was unsure, but added that two ministers would leave for Russia on Monday to discuss fuel imports from Russia and other related matters.

Sri Lankan motorists have been queueing up outside fuel stations for weeks as the country faces its worst-ever economic crisis leading to a shortage in essentials including fuel.

Sri Lanka's two fuel distributors Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Lanka IOC announced on Sunday that they have increased fuel prices, the fourth time the country has raised fuel prices this year.

A military personnel issues tokens for consumers who queue up at a fuel station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 27, 2022. Fuel filling stations across the country started issuing tokens for consumers from Monday as only limited stocks of fuel were available. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

Military personnel issue tokens for a consumer who queues up at a fuel station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 27, 2022. Fuel filling stations across the country started issuing tokens for consumers from Monday as only limited stocks of fuel were available. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

EXPLORE XINHUANET