Sri Lanka needs $5B for basic goods, says premier

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Sri Lanka's prime minister announced on Wednesday that the country needs $5 billion for essential needs such as food, fuel, fertilizer, and gas over the next six months.

"The next three weeks will be a tough time for us in regards to fuel. It is a time we must all use fuel and gas as (sparingly) as possible. Non-essential travel should be limited as much as possible," Ranil Wickremesinghe told the South Asian nation's parliament.

In his address, he urged the public to refrain from hoarding fuel and gas during this period, asserting that the government would provide fuel and food after this "difficult" period.

"Negotiations are underway with various parties to (make) this happens. After these difficult three weeks, we are trying to ensure that the shortage of fuel and gas will have ended," he added.

In April, the country announced that it had defaulted on all of its foreign debt as the island nation grapples with massive anti-government protests amid its worst economic crisis.

In mid-May, the country stated that crisis-hit Sri Lanka had run out of petrol.