Colombo: Sri Lanka’s energy crisis has become serious, the country is being blacked out for 10 hours, while hospitals have stopped surgeries.
More hospitals in Sri Lanka have announced the suspension of routine surgeries due to severe shortages of fuel and life-saving drugs, according to details. In view of this situation, Sri Lanka on Wednesday started a record 10 hours daily load shedding across the country.
According to foreign media, this South Asian country with a population of 22 million is suffering from the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, due to the severe shortage of foreign currency to pay for imports.
According to officials, more than 40% of Sri Lanka’s electricity comes from hydropower, but most reserves have been reduced to dangerous levels because of the lack of rain.
The state power utility said it was imposing a 10-hour power cut due to a lack of oil to supply power to thermal generators, up from seven hours earlier this month.
According to reports, most of Sri Lanka’s electricity is generated from coal and oil, both of which are imported products but supply is low, as the country does not have enough foreign exchange to pay for supplies.
Affected by the situation, more hospitals have announced the suspension of routine surgeries, as medical equipment, anesthetics and chemicals needed for diagnostic tests were dangerously low. Sri Lanka’s National Hospital, the country’s largest medical facility, also said it had stopped routine diagnostic tests, but that the hospital was being supplied with electricity from the national grid.
Sri Lanka’s main fuel retailer has said the country will not have diesel for at least two days, which is commonly used for public transport.