• We have the ability to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel if we manage it sparingly and cut down on unnecessary expenses

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

While identifying the priorities, the government should decide whether to stay in the dark after eating apples, grapes and oranges or make sacrifices to prioritise our limited foreign exchange spending on essential commodities such as medicine and fuel, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said.   

Addressing the media yesterday, he said without considering the priorities, the country is importing water, apples, grapes, and oranges without fuel. We have imported honey, but do not have enough medicines, he said.   
We have the ability to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel if we manage it sparingly and cut down on unnecessary expenses. Through that, the country can ensure an uninterrupted power supply.   

The minister also claimed that what the country is experiencing is not an electricity crisis or a fuel crisis, but a foreign exchange crisis.   The government spent $21 billion on imports last year (2021), of which $2.8 billion was allocated for fuel imports, the minister said.