Sri Lanka runs out of petrol: Prime Minister  

Colombo: Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has run out of petrol, the newly appointed prime minister of the South Asian nation said Tuesday.

"We only have petrol stocks for a single day," Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a tweet. 

"The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives," he added.

The government is seeking $75 million in foreign exchange to pay debts including for oil shipments, Wickremesinghe added.

He warned of power outages for up to 15 hours a day as the country relies on oil to generate electricity.

"We will face considerable challenges and adversity. However, this will not be for long. In the coming months, our foreign allies will assist us. They have already pledged their support," he said.

People took to the streets at the end of March, protesting hours-long daily power cuts and shortages of food, fuel, and other vital goods after a foreign exchange shortage led to the country’s worst-ever economic crisis. 

The crisis led to widespread protests against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family, culminating in the resignation of his elder brother Mahinda as prime minister last week after fighting between government supporters and protesters killed nine people and wounded at least 300.

The government declared a nationwide curfew and ordered troops to open fire on anyone looting public property or causing harm to life.