Because there isn't enough fuel for parents and teachers to transport children to classes, cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Sunday extended school closures for one week. The energy minister pleaded with the nation's expats to transfer money home through banks to finance additional oil purchases.

Due to a substantial foreign debt, none of the island's gasoline providers are ready to offer fuel on credit. According to officials, the existing inventories, which are only enough to last a few days, would be used to support vital services like food distribution, public transportation, and workers in the health and port industries.

"Finding money is difficult. It's an enormous problem, "Kanchana Wijesekera, the minister of power and energy, told reporters.

He claimed that the government has placed an order for fresh fuel supplies, and that the first ship carrying 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel is anticipated to arrive on Friday and the first ship carrying gasoline on July 22.

There are plenty of other fuel supplies on the way. He added that the government is having trouble coming up with $587 million to cover the cost of the fuel. According to Wijesekera, Sri Lanka owes seven fuel suppliers around $800 million.

Due to fuel shortages, schools were shuttered for a day last month across the country and had been closed for the previous two weeks in metropolitan areas. The last day of classes is Friday.

Because they are unable to deliver enough fuel to power producing plants, authorities have announced up to three-hour daily nationwide power outages starting on Monday. Massive power outages and acute shortages of necessities like cooking gas, medications, and food imports have been a drag on Sri Lanka's economy for months.

Wijesekera claimed that the lack of dollars is the primary issue and urged the 2 million Sri Lankans who are employed overseas to transmit their foreign exchange earnings through regular channels rather than illegal ones. 
&nbsp;

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Because there isn't enough fuel for parents and teachers to transport children to classes, cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Sunday extended school closures for one week.

Because there isn't enough fuel for parents and teachers to transport children to classes, cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Sunday extended school closures for one week. The energy minister pleaded with the nation's expats to transfer money home through banks to finance additional oil purchases. Due to a substantial foreign debt, none of the island's gasoline providers are ready to offer fuel on credit. According to officials, the existing inventories, which are only enough to last a few days, would be used to support vital services like food distribution, public transportation, and workers in the health and port industries. "Finding money is difficult. It's an enormous problem, "Kanchana Wijesekera, the minister of power and energy, told reporters. He claimed that the government has placed an order for fresh fuel supplies, and that the first ship carrying 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel is anticipated to arrive on Friday and the first ship carrying gasoline on July 22. There are plenty of other fuel supplies on the way. He added that the government is having trouble coming up with $587 million to cover the cost of the fuel. According to Wijesekera, Sri Lanka owes seven fuel suppliers around $800 million. Due to fuel shortages, schools were shuttered for a day last month across the country and had been closed for the previous two weeks in metropolitan areas. The last day of classes is Friday. Because they are unable to deliver enough fuel to power producing plants, authorities have announced up to three-hour daily nationwide power outages starting on Monday. Massive power outages and acute shortages of necessities like cooking gas, medications, and food imports have been a drag on Sri Lanka's economy for months. Wijesekera claimed that the lack of dollars is the primary issue and urged the 2 million Sri Lankans who are employed overseas to transmit their foreign exchange earnings through regular channels rather than illegal ones. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lanka economic crisis: Govt keeps schools closed until Friday amid fuel shortage

Amid the political turmoil sweeping the country, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked the state of emergency in the country.

The Lankan president lost his parliamentary majority after allies walked out of the government amid large scale anti-government protests in the country.

On Tuesday, Sri Lanka's newly-appointed finance minister Ali Sabry quit after just one day in office as the opposition rejected the president's request for a unity government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankan-medical-body-declares-health-emergency-amid-political-turmoil-report-468449">Also Read:&nbsp;Sri Lankan medical body declares health emergency</a>

The island nation has witnessed an economic downturn ever since the pandemic hit the country over two years ago with its foreign reserves at an all-time low. In recent months, the country has struggled with fuel crisis and rising inflation including long power cuts.

Last week protesters tried to storm the president's house in Colombo as President Rajapaksa sought to impose a state of emergency in the country. The president's cabinet submitted their resignation en masse leading to further instability.

Watch:&nbsp;How can Sri Lanka escape this mess?

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Amid the political turmoil, 41 lawmakers left Rajapaka's coalition government reducing it to a minority. The medical body in the country had declared a state of health emergency on Tuesday due to a shortage of medicines and life-saving drugs.&nbsp;

The protesters have been demanding Rajapaksa's resignation amid the economic crisis even as authorities have moved to clamp down on demonstrators and reportedly arrested over 60 people.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/please-try-and-save-our-motherland-sri-lanka-opposition-leader-to-indian-pm-modi-468261">Also Read:&nbsp;'Please try and save our motherland': Sri Lanka opposition leader to Indian PM Modi</a>

There were protests outside the prime ministers' house on Tuesday as students chanted anti-government slogans. There have been street demonstrations against food and fuel shortages as the country has struggled to service its foreign debts.

The International Monetary Fund had said it was monitoring&nbsp;the situation closely amid&nbsp;reports of a bailout, however, there has been no confirmation on it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid the political turmoil sweeping the country, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked the state of emergency in the country. The Lankan president lost his parliamentary majority after allies walked out of the government amid large scale anti-government protests in the country.

Amid the political turmoil sweeping the country, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked the state of emergency in the country. The Lankan president lost his parliamentary majority after allies walked out of the government amid large scale anti-government protests in the country. On Tuesday, Sri Lanka's newly-appointed finance minister Ali Sabry quit after just one day in office as the opposition rejected the president's request for a unity government. Also Read: Sri Lankan medical body declares health emergency The island nation has witnessed an economic downturn ever since the pandemic hit the country over two years ago with its foreign reserves at an all-time low. In recent months, the country has struggled with fuel crisis and rising inflation including long power cuts. Last week protesters tried to storm the president's house in Colombo as President Rajapaksa sought to impose a state of emergency in the country. The president's cabinet submitted their resignation en masse leading to further instability. Watch: How can Sri Lanka escape this mess? Amid the political turmoil, 41 lawmakers left Rajapaka's coalition government reducing it to a minority. The medical body in the country had declared a state of health emergency on Tuesday due to a shortage of medicines and life-saving drugs. The protesters have been demanding Rajapaksa's resignation amid the economic crisis even as authorities have moved to clamp down on demonstrators and reportedly arrested over 60 people. Also Read: 'Please try and save our motherland': Sri Lanka opposition leader to Indian PM Modi There were protests outside the prime ministers' house on Tuesday as students chanted anti-government slogans. There have been street demonstrations against food and fuel shortages as the country has struggled to service its foreign debts. The International Monetary Fund had said it was monitoring the situation closely amid reports of a bailout, however, there has been no confirmation on it. (With inputs from Agencies)

Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa revokes emergency order amid economic crisis

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Sri Lanka economic crisis: Govt keeps schools closed until Friday amid fuel shortage

Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa revokes emergency order amid economic crisis