ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has requested foreign visitors to fill out a form to obtain emergency fuel in a move to ease the travelling for tourists amid acute fuel shortage and boost foreign revenue from the industry.
The facility is available till the 10th of July and will be given on a priority basis.
“Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with Ministry of Tourism is facilitating emergency assistance to provide fuel for commuting and arriving guests,” a request form on the SLTDA website showed.
Travelers after submitting the form will be notified via email/WHatsApp and directed to obtain the fuel from a state-run Sri Lanka Transport Board deport or a nearby Army Camp for fuel.
Sri Lanka has almost dried out it’s fuel bunkers as of now but it’s awaiting shipments this month amid a severe dollar shortage in the ongoing economic crisis.
The earliest one is said to arrive between July 8 and 9 – a 40,000 metric tonne diesel shipment worth 66.5 million US dollars from the UAE.
Related : https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-to-receive-9-fuel-ships-between-july-august-96808/
The island nation’s move comes as it’s usable foreign reserves have plummeted to almost zero while the tourism industry saw a revival from Covid-19 hit pandemic last year though the political crisis since April has dampened the arrivals. (Colombo/Jul05/2022)