Sri Lanka struggling to pay for fuel shipments - minister

FILE PHOTO: A man waits in a queue to buy petrol due to fuel shortage, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File Photo

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is struggling to raise $587 million to pay for about half a dozen fuel shipments, a top minister said on Sunday as the cash-strapped country tries to cope with its worst financial crisis in decades.

The country of 22 million people is unable to pay for essential import of food items, fertiliser, medicines and fuel due to a severe dollar crunch.