The import and export container vehicles are facing a major crisis due to the shortage of auto diesel, revealed Chairman of the All Ceylon Container Vehicle Owners Association Sanath Manjula, speaking to media.

The shortage has affected the export container arrivals in particular, he emphasised. Over 60 per cent of the country’s dollar income comes from exports, he reminded, warning that in the backdrop the transport sector could be brought to a complete standstill by tomorrow.

Despite the discussions held with the previous authorities regarding the crisis, no proper solution was provided, Manjula went on, adding that discussions were also held with the current Prime Minister.

The Union requested that five filling stations belonging to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) in Colombo city and one filling station belonging to the Sri Lanka Navy be allowed to fully facilitate these vehicles for refueling, as a solution to the crisis.

Manjula also noted that despite a large number of products in the investment zones being completed, they could not be transported due to the fuel crisis, warning that in the backdrop, there could be a risk of these product quotas being delivered to a different country.

MIAP

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to address the nation today (16) at 6.30 pm.

The Prime Minister’s statement will be broadcast live on all media channels.

MIAP

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Sri Lanka Udayanga Weeratunga in a statement calling in for protection for his life said that the President should completely be held accountable should anything happen to his life, his house set on fire or he be arrested.

In his controversial statement, Weeratunga added that should anything of the aforementioned nature happen, it will happen on the advice the President gives to his henchmen, knowingly or unknowingly.

The Rajapaksa relative questions how the President, who cannot protect a bus and even his parents’ grave, can protect the country and the people.

MIAP

Sri Lankans are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis: gas prices have tripled since last September and food has doubled in the last few months.

By Nicole Johnstone, news correspondent, in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is expected to give his first address to the nation on Monday after being appointed last week.

A new cabinet is still being formed after all 26 members resigned along with the former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still president.

The country’s economic and political crisis shows no sign of abating. Anti-government demonstrators, who have maintained a protest camp in Colombo, are calling on the president to resign.

The demonstrators are fed up with the country’s cost of living crisis. Long queues of people line up for gas and petrol and there is a shortage of most basic supplies.

At one gas shortage protest in the capital, a woman told Sky News: “I am a mother, I have one child and I can’t give them anything.”

One man called on the government to find a solution. “We need action, not debate, and we don’t need words,” he said.

Sri Lankans are experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis. Gas prices have tripled since last September and food has doubled in the last few months.

Chamali Jayamali is struggling to survive on two dollars a day – her family used to earn three dollars a day but her disabled husband’s job making paper bags at home has taken a hit because there’s a severe paper shortage in the country.

Chamali feels like she can’t get a break. With five people in the family to feed and a grandchild on the way she no longer buys chicken or fish because they’re too expensive. Instead, she cooks a vegetable curry once a day with kerosene.

Her daily cleaning salary is “useless”, she says, as she has to spend half of it paying for kerosene.

“All we have to say [to the government] is please give us some help,” Chamali says. “If not, resign and appoint someone who can do this.”

The country has been hit with a perfect storm: the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and grievous economic mismanagement by the top levels of government have made the country almost bankrupt.

Sri Lanka has less than $50m (£41m) in foreign reserves and has more than $30bn (£24.5bn) of foreign debt.

In 2019, the government cut tax levels by 50% and two years later it banned chemical fertiliser overnight, drastically reducing agricultural production.

The decisions stunned economists and contributed to the country’s financial crisis.

This week saw violence break out between pro and anti government forces, a night time curfew was imposed and the military patrolled the streets.

Now the country is waiting for new government ministers to be appointed and the government to stabilise.

But it’s unclear whether that will be enough to get protesters off the streets.

Sky News

Islandwide curfew will be reimposed from 8 pm tonight (16) to 5 am tomorrow (17), announced the President’s Media Unit said.

The curfew will be imposed in accordance with the Public Security Act.

Accordingly, no one will be permitted to stay on a public road, railroad, park, playground or other public area, as well as any beach, except under the authority of a written permit by an authorising officer.

MIAP

Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara urged the people not to queue up for fuel the next three days until the 1190 fuel station deliveries are completed, revealing that adequate fuel will be made available with the arrival of a diesel cargo yesterday.

In a tweet, the Minister also revealed that three vessels carrying diesel will arrive in the country in the next two weeks, backed by the Indian Credit line.

MIAP