COLOMBO, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police said on Saturday that they have arrested 13 people since Friday for unruly behavior at gas stations.
Police said that most of the arrested were under the influence of alcohol, and some had attempted to obstruct the duties of police officers deployed to guard the gas stations.
Sri Lanka has been facing fuel shortages since February 2022 due to foreign currency shortages.
State-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation suspended retail oil distribution at the end of June, only to have restarted in mid-July.
Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said earlier this week that gas stations will only accept the national fuel pass or QR code system from Aug. 1. ■