Queues at Sathosa; the latest to the growing number of queues in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankans have been waiting in a number of queues to buy essentials like fuel, gas, kerosene, and even milk powder for many weeks.

On Monday (28), a new queue was witnessed opposite multiple Sathosa outlets, as hundreds line up to make purchases at concessionary prices.

Over in Baddegama, people were in line for hours.

"I am coming here to purchase a kilo of sugar at a concessionary price because I am poor. If these rulers cannot govern properly, they must leave," said one local man who was waiting in line all afternoon to make a purchase.

The Sathosa queue is the latest to the growing number of queues in Sri Lanka.

In this backdrop, it is reported that Sri Lanka has sought an additional credit line of $1 billion from India to import essentials amid its worst economic crisis in decades, as the Indian foreign minister began talks with the government of its neighbor.

The island nation is struggling to pay for essential imports of food and fuel after a 70% drop in foreign exchange reserves since January 2020 led to a currency devaluation and efforts to seek help from global lenders.

New Delhi has indicated it would meet the request for the new line, to be used for importing essential items such as rice, wheat flour, pulses, sugar, and medicines, said sources.

In addition to the credit lines, India extended a $400-million currency swap and a $500-million credit line for fuel purchases to Sri Lanka earlier this year.

Sri Lanka’s imports stalled, causing shortages of many essential items after foreign currency reserves fell to $2.31 billion by February.