15 June 2022 08:33 am Views - 179
By Yohan Perera
It will be possible to meet 50 per cent of the demand for gas and fuel in the coming weeks, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a statement.
“A ship has already arrived with 3500 MT of gas. We shall be distributing gas only for wholesale buyers such as hospitals, crematoriums and hotels. Later we will get consignments of gas for four months. It will take 14 days to secure these stocks. However, we hope to get some shipments sooner,” the Prime Minister said.
“We have enough fuel for seven days at the moment. However, efforts are being made to secure 40,000 MT of fuel in the coming weeks. We hope to obtain fuel following the agreement which we hope to sign with India. It will be possible to supply 50 per cent of the demand anyhow,” he added.
“Sri Lanka is facing a Rupee cash shortage as well other than the dollar issue. I have already spoken to IMF Managing Director who assured to expedite the assistance. I have also spoken to World Food Programme. In addition, US President Joe Biden has assured Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington assistance. The world is looking at us and is ready to help us. However, we have to help ourselves first. Therefore, it is essential to have a debt restructuring programme in place as soon as possible,” the Prime Minister stressed.