Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has asked Russia’s Vladimir Putin to help the nation buy fuel. Rajapaksa said he “had a very productive” discussion with Putin. This happened soon after Sri Lanka’s energy minister’s warning that the country will soon run out of fuel.
“I requested an offer of credit support to import fuel,” Rajapaksa tweeted. Rajapaksa also said he had “humbly made a request” for flights between Moscow and Colombo to resume, after the Russian flag carrier Aeroflot suspended services last month.
“We unanimously agreed that strengthening bilateral relations in sectors such as tourism, trade and culture was paramount in reinforcing the friendship our two nations share,” Rajapaksa added.
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Had a very productive telecon with the #Russia President, Vladimir Putin. While thanking him for all the support extended by his gvt to overcome the challenges of the past, I requested an offer of credit support to import fuel to #lka in defeating the current econ challenges.— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) July 6, 2022
The recent months have seen the island nation turn towards Russia to buy fuel to bolster dwindling reserves. The government has indicated that it wants to but more fuel from energy surplus Russia.
The economic crisis Sri Lanka’s worst in more than 70 years and Rajapaksa has attempted to solve it by securing Indian and Chinese financial aid. But the country has so far failed to end weeks of shortages of fuel, power, food and other essential items.
Last week saw Sri Lanka stop sale of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles as the authorities rushed to conserve its dwindling fuel reserves.
The country’s annual inflation hit a record high of 54.6% in June. The cost of food has risen by more than 80% affecting common people leading to violent protests on the streets.
BBC reported that, hundreds of protesters had a day earlier on Wednesday gathered near the parliament building in Colombo as they launched what they called the “final push” to remove Rajapaksa’s government.
