Sri Lanka hikes fuel costs as US delegation arrives

US ASSESSES CRISIS

A delegation from the US Treasury and the State Department came for talks to “explore the most effective ways for that US to support Sri Lankans in need”, the US embassy within Colombo said.

“As Sri Lankans endure some of the greatest financial challenges in their background, our efforts to aid economic growth and strengthen democratic organizations have never been a lot more critical, ” ALL OF US ambassador Julie Chung said in a statement.

The charge said it experienced committed US$158. seventy five million in brand new financing in the past two weeks to help Sri Lankans.

The EL has already issued an urgent situation appeal to raise US$47 million to give food to the most vulnerable segments of the island’s twenty two million people.

About 1 . 7 million residents need “life-saving assistance”, according to the UN, with 4 out of five individuals reducing their intake of food due to severe shortages and galloping costs.

Last week, the government closed non-essential condition institutions and colleges for two weeks to reduce commuting because of the power crisis.

Several hospitals across the country documented a sharp drop within the attendance of healthcare staff due to the gas shortage.

Primary Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned parliament on Wednesday that a lot more hardships were on the way.

“Our economic climate has faced a whole collapse, ” Wickremesinghe said. “We are now facing a far more severe situation beyond the mere shortages associated with fuel, gas, electricity and food. inch

Unable to pay back its US$51 billion dollars foreign debt, the government declared it was defaulting in April and is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a possible bailout.