Former cricketer Roshan Mahanama posted photos of himself delivering tea and food to those waiting in long queues at a Colombo gas station as Sri Lanka fights severe shortages of food, fuel, and medications.
Due to a currency shortage, Sri Lanka is undergoing its worst economic crisis since independence, with country unable to import basic goods.
“We provided tea and buns to people in the petrol queues at Ward Place and Wijerama mawatha this evening with the help of the Community Meal Share team.” The lines are growing longer by the day, and those who wait in them suffer a number of health risks,” the batter stated on Twitter. In Sri Lanka, armed police and soldiers have been stationed at gas stations.
We served tea and buns with the team from Community Meal Share this evening for the people at the petrol queues around Ward Place and Wijerama mawatha.
The queues are getting longer by the day and there will be many health risks to people staying in queues. pic.twitter.com/i0sdr2xptI— Roshan Mahanama (@Rosh_Maha) June 18, 2022
In an effort to limit commuting and conserve the impoverished country’s decreasing fuel supplies, the administrative imposed a two week shutdown of state institutions and schools.
“In the fuel lines, please keep an eye out for one another. Bring plenty of water and food, and if you’re sick, ask for aid from the person closest to you or call 1990. During these trying times, we must look out for one another,” the cricketer emphasised.
Sri Lanka defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt in April and is currently in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a rescue.