Running low on forex reserves, Sri Lanka gets $160mn from WB
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has received $160 million from the World Bank and is looking at the possibility of using some of it to buy fuel, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament on Wednesday, as protests continued in the country against the ongoing fuel and gas shortages caused by the economic crisis.
“160 million dollars has been received from the World Bank and a grant from the ADB (Asian Development Bank) is also expected,” Wickremesinghe said.
He said the money received from the World Bank cannot be used to buy fuel. “We are trying to see if we can use some of it for fuel purchases,” he said.
Wickremesinghe in his address to the nation on Monday said that two more petrol shipments under the Indian credit line were due this week and by May 29.
His remarks came as angry protesters blocked several roads here on Wednesday as part of the protest against ongoing fuel and gas shortages caused by the economic crisis.
Miles-long queues were seen around every fuel station. Kanchana Wijesekera, the energy minister, said there was no petrol in stock and it would only be by the weekend that petrol would be available at pumping stations. “We have not got dollars to get a petrol shipment released and we only have very little petrol stock for essential service. We are sorry for that. Please do not wait in queues. It will take another three days for distribution,” Wijesekera told parliament.
He said there are adequate supplies of diesel.
Wijesekera said $53 million for a petrol shipment that was delivered in January had not been paid since the end of March.
Ex-PM Mahinda makes 1st appearance in parl
Sri Lanka’s former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday made his first appearance in parliament since he was forced to resign as prime minister and take shelter in a navy camp under high security amidst violent protests against the economic crisis largely blamed on the Rajapaksas.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, who served as the country’s prime minister thrice, saw his residence set on fire last week. He, along with his wife and family, had fled his official residence Temple Trees - and took shelter at the naval base in Trincomalee. Mahinda resigned as PM last week, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in the capital.
The attack triggered widespread violence against pro-Rajapaksa politicians.