Sri Lanka warns petrol stocks about to run dry

Sri Lanka's energy minister Kanchana Wijesekera has issued a stark warning over the country's fuel stocks as it faces its worst economic crisis in history.

On Sunday_ Kanchana Wijesekera said the island nation only had enough petrol left for less than a day under regular demand.

He also said that its next petrol shipment was not due for more than two weeks.

Last week_ the country suspended sales of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles as it is almost impossible to pay for imports like fuel_ food and medicines as the country's foreign currency reserves has declined to record low.

The minister that the country had only 12_774 tonnes of diesel and 4_061 tonnes of petrol left in its reserves. The next petrol shipment is expected on 22-23 July_ he added. Meanwhile_ a diesel shipment is expected to arrive at the weekend.

However_ he warned that the Sri Lankan government does not have enough money to pay for planned fuel and crude oil imports.

He said that the central bank of Sri Lanka could only provide only $125 million for fuel purchases_ far less than the $587 million needed for its scheduled shipments.

The cash-strapped country owed $800 million to seven suppliers for purchases it made earlier this year_ Mr Wijesekera added.

Experts say that it is the first country to take the drastic step of halting sales of petrol to mass people since the 1970s oil crisis_ when fuel was rationed in the US and Europe.

Severe shortages of fuel_ food and medicines have helped to push up the consumer cost to record highs in the country.