Colombo: Sri Lanka ordered troops to the gas station on Tuesday as sporadic protests erupted among thousands of riders queued every day for rare fuel.
The South Asian Island nation grappled with its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades, with a rolling power outing and important items such as food and gas cooking also in short supply.
The army was deployed after many angry people blocked the main arteries in Colombo and raised traffic for hours because they could not buy kerosene oil on Monday, the Ramesh Pathhirtana government spokesman said.
Records of events distributed on social media show a group of angry women blocking tourist coaches to protest the lack of kerosene needed to cook stoves
“We saw tourists detained, we also heard that some people might hoard oil and which is why the government decided to spread the military,” Pathirana told reporters in the capital.
The call of the troops also followed the killing of motorbike riders by other drivers after a dispute in place in a long queue for fuel outside the Colombo.
“BEMPERS increasingly worn when the queue is getting longer,” said an upper defense official told AFP with anonymity requirements.
“A decision was made last night to call the army to strengthen the police. This is to prevent riots.”
Three elderly people died on fuel queues since Saturday, police said, adding that many gas stations saw people camping overnight to wait for the purchase of diesel and gasoline.