A group of vehicles, out of gas and trapped in line for days, kick off their shoes and settle on a sidewalk in Sri Lanka’s capital for a game of cards.
Interim curfews, tear gas plumes, and the president’s unexpected departure and resignation have all failed to move the lengthy car lineups stretching out of Colombo’s empty petrol stations. Persistent fuel shortages have been a source of annoyance for months, but they are now worse than ever, with some individuals standing in line for days with no certainty of a replenishment.
In the city’s tropical heat, car drivers sit listlessly behind the wheel, while riders without the luxury of a reclining seat spread rattan mats to slumber on the ground.
Sri Lanka’s energy minister indicated this week that another maritime petrol cargo from India would arrive by next Tuesday at the latest, assuming the weather permitted it to arrive at port. However, the resupply is unlikely to alleviate the complaints that have developed in tandem with the length of time between new stock.
“There is no fuel, children are not going to school, and costs are very exorbitant,” Gihan Martyn, a Colombo resident, told AFP. “The country is slipping backwards by the day.”
