SHORTAGES PERSIST
As depleted reserves have dried out supplies of gas, diesel and fuel, lengthy fuel queues, sometimes persisting for the, have become a daily function this year.
The shortages have introduced a boom popular for firewood.
Krishan Darshana stated he had joined their father in splitting up logs to sell because kindling after getting laid off from a work in construction during the crisis.
“It’s very hard work, inch said the 25-year-old, who now makes do with a glass of tea as well as a couple of biscuits since the day’s only dinner. “But what otherwise can I do when there are no jobs for us? ”
Times are also hard for those with health problems.
“Government hospitals have run out of medicine so they request us to buy from pharmacies – yet we don’t have anything, ” said Krishan’s mother, 60-year-old Gamage Rupawathi.
She suffers from asthma, bad cholesterol and arthritis, but now finds she has simply three days of medicines left.
“After this is over, what do I do? ” the girl asked tearfully, gesturing to an inhaler the lady uses twice a day to help her inhale.