Sri Lanka to get an emergency loan from India to buy fuel – report

The government has decided to obtain an emergency loan of $ 500 million from India to import fuel which is in serious crisis, according to a report.

A senior government minister has told Lankadeepa that top government leaders have already begun discussions with the Indian government.

The Petroleum Corporation is facing a serious crisis due to the shortage of dollars and they are having a dificult time finding the required amount of dollars for fuel imports.

The Sapugaskanda oil refinery was also closed last week due to a lack of dollars for crude oil imports, and a date for its reopening has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila has stated at a cabinet meeting last Monday that $ 350 million a month is needed to import fuel.

He also said that finding the money has become a serious crisis.

In view of this, the government has decided to obtain an emergency loan of $ 500 million from India for fuel imports, sources said.