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Sri Lanka only has enough petrol stocks to last a single day, with the possibility of power outages lasting up to 15 hours a day, the country’s new prime minister has warned.
In his first address since his controversial appointment, Ranil Wickremesinghe said there is also a “grave concern” about the lack of medicine, with a particular shortage of heart disease drugs and the anti-rabies vaccine – the latter of which has no alternative treatment.
“Payments have not been made for four months to suppliers of medicine, medical equipment, and food for patients,” said Mr Wickremesinghe.
The country has a “very low amount” of dollars, although the president said he “obtained money to avert this crisis”.
But, he added: “We must also immediately obtain USD 20 million to provide gas to consumers.”
He has also proposed the privatisation of Sri Lankan airlines.
Read more: What is happening in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is on the brink of bankruptcy and faces its worst economic crisis since independence, with acute shortages of food, fuel, and other essentials.
Protests have been taking place on the island nation of 22 million people since the end of March between pro-government supporters and those calling for an immediate change in authority.
An MP was killed in a stand-off with protesters and the homes of other politicians set on fire in violence across the country.
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