Sri Lanka has ordered its military to post soldiers at hundreds of petrol stations to help distribute fuel after a sudden rise in prices of key commodities and the accompanying shortages forced tens of thousands of people to queue for hours. The Indian Ocean island nation is battling a foreign exchange crisis that forced the devaluation of its currency and hit payments for essential imports such as food, medicine and fuel, prompting the government to approach the International Monetary Fund.
According to officials today, the decision to position troops near petrol pumps and kerosene supply points came after three elderly people dropped dead during their wait in long queues. Meanwhile, tension over the scarcity of supplies has led to sporadic violence among residents jostling to buy fuel and other essential items as Police said a man was stabbed to death on Monday in an argument with the driver of a three-wheeled vehicle, while last week three elderly men died while queueing to buy fuel in sweltering heat.
Chidozie Chima | August 29, 2024
