Fuel shortages triggered clashes in Sri Lanka

The incident happened on Saturday night in Visuvamadu, 370 km north of the capital Colombo.

Motorists began to protest when there was no more petrol left. Eventually, a group of over 20 people began throwing stones at soldiers guarding the gas station, according to an army spokesman.

The soldiers responded by opening fire. Four civilians and three soldiers were injured in the incident, according to the spokesperson.

In Sri Lanka, which has been hit by a deep economic crisis, there is a shortage of both fuel and other types of goods. An acute shortage of foreign currency makes it difficult to import food. Inflation is very high, a phenomenon that currently also affects the economies of many other countries around the world.

–