Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila claims a continuous supply of fuel can be guaranteed without a fuel or power crisis if dollars are provided continuously.
Speaking to media, Minister Gammanpila said the government must now identify its priorities, make sacrifices, and use the limited foreign reserves to purchase medicine and fuel.
The Minister said the country is not facing a fuel crisis or a power crisis but a foreign reserve crisis.
He said the country spent USD 21 billion on imports last year with USD 2.8 billion spent on importing fuel.
The Energy Minister added there are vessels carrying fuel at sea this very moment, while the shipments cannot be cleared due to the lack of dollars.
Minister Gammanpila said such vessels will not be anchored at sea and await payments if there was indeed a fuel crisis.
He added there is no fuel crisis despite an ongoing war.
The Minister claimed that the main concern was sourcing dollars.
He said state banks have stopped providing loans while the government has also failed to provide concessions to import fuel while taxes have not been lifted on imported fuel.
He compared the fuel crisis to a blood clot.
When questioned by media, over a possible fuel price increase, Minister Gammanpila said he is unwilling to comment on uncertain matters.
