The island nation has jailed a man for three weeks after he admitted to hoarding four litres of petrol during a nationwide fuel shortage, local media reported.
A magistrate in Nikaweratiya, 125km northeast of the capital Colombo, also imposed a fine of 1,500 rupees (RM18.9), according to the Lankadeepa newspaper.
It added the 48-year-old man had been charged with hoarding petrol and trying to sell it on the black market amid an imposed fuel rationing.
Motorists on the South Asian island are currently receiving fuel every other day.
Authorities say existing diesel stocks are sufficient until mid-May, while petrol supplies could last about a week longer.
Fuel prices across Sri Lanka have risen by a third since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks that disrupted global supplies.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s office said he had held talks with the visiting Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin on securing oil supplies.
In a statement, Dissanayake’s office quoted the Russian minister as saying: “Russia is prepared to support Sri Lanka in facing any challenges arising from the Middle East conflict.” — AFP
