Ten days in line to fill petrol in Sri Lanka!

COLOMBO - In Sri Lanka, which is facing an economic crisis due to dynastic politics, it has become common for people to queue for hours to fill up the fuel. Lack of foreign exchange reserves has forced Sri Lanka to import fuel.

The line of vehicles queuing to fill fuel in the capital Colombo is more than 5 kilometers. Meanwhile, BBC Pakistan and Afghanistan Correspondent Sikandar Kirmani has spoken to a minibus driver who has been sitting in the petrol line for ten days. 43-year-old Pratham, who has been in the queue for ten days, says, 'I have been sleeping in the car since last Wednesday. It is very difficult but what to do. I will not even get a full tank of oil.'

First, they work to take tourists around. But they don't go as far as before. He works as a pick-up and drop-off from the airport to the hotel. The barely obtained oil is enough to travel to and from the airport three times. He will have to sit in the same long line again. Pratham's brother and son sometimes take turns so that he can rest for a while.

The political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka is deepening. The price has increased up to 50 percent. President Rajapaksa has fled the country. After widespread protests, he has resigned from outside the country. Some say that the tourism industry has collapsed due to the corona epidemic and as a result the current crisis has arisen. But economists say that the crisis has arisen because of the government's economic policy. Due to low foreign exchange reserves, it has become difficult to import essential materials like oil and medicine.

Amid the growing crisis, who will be the new prime minister and president has also become a matter of general interest. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to come as the new leader. But Sri Lankan citizens see him as the 'second Rajapaksa'. There is also a possibility that Wickramasinghe will be elected as the President this week. But the protestors are not in favor of accepting him.

Sajit Premadasa, the leader of the main opposition party Samajji Jana Balavegaya (SJB), has said that he is ready to take the leadership. On July 20, the Parliament will vote for the post of President. Premadasa was defeated in the 2019 presidential election. After the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa last April, Premadasa was offered to become the Prime Minister, but he refused.

Sri Lanka is struggling with a serious economic crisis since its independence (1947) due to dwindling foreign exchange reserves. Because of this, there is a shortage in the market and the increase in prices. The daily life of common people is becoming difficult. Schools, health institutions and government office services are also affected. People have been taking to the streets since last April saying that President Rajapaksa and outgoing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa are responsible for creating this situation in the country.