'There was NO fuel crisis, misleading statements led to panic' - Prime Minister Rajapaksa

COLOMBO (News 1st); Misleading statements lead to public panic, warned Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday (5).

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made it clear that he has taken the necessary steps to drive the country towards development, said the prime ministers while noting that all public servants, not only himself and the ministers & mps, must work towards realizing these goals.

"The topic discussed in recent days was the fuel crisis. In fact, there was NO fuel crisis," he said, adding that misleading statements claiming that fuel reserves would only last for four days led to mass panic.

He said that during his administration, at time fuel reserves would last only a day, however, shipments were ordered and what only remained to do at the time was to unload the shipments and deliver.

The Prime Minister said that statements made with less experience in politics led to mass panic among the people, leading to long queues for fuel across the country.

"We are changing that situation. We need to develop all parts of the country. 98% have electricity and we also need to do the same with water supply," he added.