Politicos are quick to blame the public for over consuming fuel and for hoarding. Some are even quick to cast blame on fuel stations. Some blamed the underworld. Some have tried to come up with impractical and nonsensical solutions to resolve the crisis.
The biggest question is why none blamed their political masters for the mess we are in? Why none blamed their political masters for intentionally misleading the general public? Why none took responsibility for letting their masters run wild?
It was recently reported that a multiple stabbing incident had occurred at a fuel station in Wellawaya. The incident had occurred on 24 June.
According to the police, an altercation between individuals had led to the perpetrator stabbing four individuals who had been waiting in queue to obtain fuel.
There have been many violent incidents that have occurred while people have been waiting in fuel queues under the boiling sun, some resulting in the loss of life.
There have also been multiple cases of people dying due to dehydration and the lack of access to food and medicine while waiting in queues.
Schools in Colombo and other urban areas will be closed through the week commencing 27 June, while rural schools will function on 28, 29 and 30 June.
The Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has stated that people will not be afforded fuel as all expected fuel shipments have been cancelled due to ‘banking and logistics’ reasons. It was also revealed that no one knows when a shipment of fuel could be expected.
The Minister has asked people not to queue up at fuel stations and has stated that the military will provide tokens to people waiting in fuel queues.
The manager of the above fuel station told us that they have not received any type of fuel since 13 June.
We have also reliably learned from many victims that there is a an organised group involved in the siphoning of petrol from motorbikes which have been parked at public places. One such victim told us “people are stealing petrol not because they cannot afford it, but because there is non available.”
Still not one person has been held accountable for the numerous number of lives lost while waiting in fuel queues. End of the day, it is the public who pay the ultimate price.
