COLOMBO – As Sri Lanka grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades, residents face agonizing daily queues for essentials like fuel and food. CGTN Stringer’s on-the-ground report reveals how ordinary families are adapting to survival mode.
A Family’s Fight for Normalcy
Dharshini, a seamstress and mother of two, now spends 6-8 hours daily waiting in lines. \"Our lives revolve around queues – for fuel, cooking gas, even medicine,\" she says. Her husband Srinivasan’s tuk-tuk business has collapsed amid soaring gasoline prices that doubled this month alone.
Economic Domino Effect
The fuel shortage has crippled transport networks critical to Sri Lanka’s $84B economy. Small businesses report 70% drops in revenue, while tourism – previously 12% of GDP – remains stagnant. Street vendors now outnumber customers in Colombo’s commercial district.
Global Implications
As the first Asia-Pacific country to default on foreign debt since 1999, Sri Lanka’s crisis raises concerns about emerging market stability. The IMF warns 12 other nations now face \"high default risk\" amid global inflation pressures.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
