"The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to provide fuel only for essential services from midnight today [Monday] until July 10," Gunawardena said.
The official urged public and private sector employees to apply for working at home until the end of the restriction.
Gunawardena specified that fuel will only be supplied for essential services, such as the health sector, food transportation, agricultural sector and hospitals.
Sri Lanka is now facing a political and economic crisis, the worst since gaining independence in 1948. In mid-April, Sri Lanka defaulted on its external debt for an interim period, pending a restructuring of the obligations under an IMF-supported economic adjustment program. Sri Lanka’s external debt is estimated at $51 billion.
The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. It left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, heating fuel, and gas. Many regions are facing power outages.