Sri Lanka declares emergency over food as forex crisis worsens

COLOMBO • Sri Lanka yesterday declared a state of emergency over food shortages as private banks ran out of foreign exchange to finance imports.

With the country suffering a hard-hitting economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he ordered emergency regulations to counter the hoarding of sugar, rice and other essential foods.

Mr Rajapaksa has named a top army officer as "commissioner general of essential services" to coordinate the supply of paddy, rice, sugar and other consumer goods.

The move followed sharp price rises for sugar, rice, onions and potatoes, while long queues have formed outside stores because of shortages of milk powder, kerosene and cooking gas.

The government has increased penalties for food hoarding, but the shortages come as the country of 21 million battles a fierce coronavirus wave that is claiming more than 200 lives a day.

The economy shrank by a record 3.6 per cent last year because of the pandemic and, in March last year, the government banned imports of vehicles and other items, including edible oils and turmeric, an essential spice in local cooking, in a bid to save foreign exchange.

Importers still say they have been unable to source US dollars to pay for the food and medicines they are allowed to buy. Two weeks ago, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka increased interest rates in a bid to shore up the local currency.

Sri Lanka's foreign reserves fell to US$2.8 billion (S$3.8 billion) at the end of July, from US$7.5 billion in November 2019 when the government took office and the rupee has lost more than 20 per cent of its value against the US dollar in that time, according to bank data.

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila has appealed to motorists to use fuel sparingly so that the country can utilise its foreign exchange to buy essential medicines and vaccines.

A presidential aide has warned that fuel rationing may be introduced by the end of the year unless consumption is reduced.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE