Mounting fuel queues, rising costs, and global tensions force urgent political dialogue as Sri Lanka grapples with a deepening energy and economic crisis.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has moved swiftly to address growing public concern by inviting the Tamil Progressive Alliance for an urgent meeting next week, extending the invitation directly to its leader Mano Ganesan during a phone conversation. The development comes amid rising anxiety over fuel shortages, renewed queues, and questions about the effectiveness of current government policies.
Barath Arullsamy, Vice President of the Democratic People’s Front aligned with the TPA, highlighted a widening gap between official assurances and the situation on the ground. While the President recently assured Parliament that fuel stocks were sufficient, the reappearance of queues, the return of the fuel QR system, and looming gas shortages suggest otherwise. He stressed that the core issue lies not in policy intent but in execution and implementation failures.
Arullsamy pointed to Sri Lanka’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies as a key vulnerability. With nearly 20 percent of global oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz and a significant share of Sri Lanka’s petroleum imports linked to the UAE, the ongoing Iran Israel conflict has intensified pressure on supply chains. He noted that the impact is already visible across multiple sectors of the Sri Lankan economy.
Citing research, he explained that around 70 percent of cooking gas imports and over 20 percent of fertilizer imports are connected to the Middle East, alongside a large share of remittances and export flows. This, he argued, makes the conflict not a distant geopolitical issue but a direct economic challenge for Sri Lanka, affecting daily life and national stability.
He added that vulnerable groups such as daily wage earners, three wheeler drivers, and small businesses are bearing the brunt of rising fuel prices. Increased transport costs are rapidly pushing up market prices, placing additional strain on already struggling households.
Turning to disaster recovery, Arullsamy criticised delays in fulfilling promises made after the December Ditwah disaster. Despite assurances of financial compensation and proper resettlement, many affected families in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Badulla continue to live in temporary shelters with limited support.
He also raised concerns over an ongoing coal procurement controversy, warning that it could lead to an electricity tariff increase of around 13 percent. According to him, while global factors are unavoidable, local mismanagement is worsening the crisis and undermining public trust.
Describing the current policy approach as inconsistent, Arullsamy remarked that Sri Lankans are willing to face difficult realities, but not conflicting messages. He emphasized that public confidence depends on transparency and consistent governance.
Despite his criticism, he acknowledged that the President still enjoys goodwill among minority communities. However, he cautioned that delays in delivering on key promises could erode that trust and further destabilize an already fragile economic environment.
