Sri Lanka has increased petrol and diesel prices for the second time in two weeks, as tensions linked to the West Asia conflict continue to disrupt global energy supplies.
According to the announcement, petrol has risen from Rs. 317 per litre to Rs. 398. Diesel has gone up by Rs. 79 per litre and is now sold at Rs. 382.
The report attributes the pressure on supplies to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid continued conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran. With the strait being a key route for global crude oil trade, disruptions have affected crude availability and triggered fuel shortages internationally.
To manage the situation, Sri Lanka has introduced measures including a four-day workweek plan and a national fuel pass system using QR codes. Under the system, vehicle owners must register and can receive only a specified quantity of fuel.
Officials said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed that the country must be prepared for challenges that could affect energy supply due to the ongoing tensions. They added that the latest price increase is expected to reduce fuel consumption by around 15% to 20%.
