Schools in Sri Lanka reopened on Monday after being closed for several weeks due to fuel shortages. According to the Education Ministry, students will attend classes in person on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and will take online classes on Wednesdays and Fridays. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe directed officials on Saturday to speed up the fuel distribution process and prioritize providing fuel for schools and public transportation. He directed that fuel be delivered to vehicles transporting schoolchildren from all state-run fuel depots. Fishermen, farmers, and those involved in tourism, according to the president, also require adequate fuel supplies. Wickremesinghe stated that the country’s fuel black market must be addressed immediately, and he directed the police to conduct investigations.
Due to a lack of foreign exchange, Sri Lanka has been undergoing crippling fuel shortages since earlier this year.