FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka will implement a priority program to ensure exporters receive fuel stocks without delay, the Export Development Board chairman said.

This was in response to “Sri Lanka’s escalating fuel shortages driven by Middle East tensions and QR rationing,” the EDB said in a statement.

“Treating the export sector as the nation’s top priority, this government-backed initiative aims to shield over 4,500 exporters, spread across apparel, tea, spices, and other key industries.”

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship is collecting the necessary data from exporters right now.

“If you haven’t submitted your information yet, do so immediately,” he urged during a media briefing, highlighting the EDB’s role in mediating swift allocations.

Oil prices passed 110 dollars a barrel on Thursday after Israel hit Iran’s South Pars gas field, and Iran retaliated by hitting Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex.

With exporters forming the backbone of the economy, the EDB said, the program positions fuel delivery as a frontline national task, promising seamless operations and sustained competitiveness on the world stage.

“We expect to provide all required facilities so exports can continue without any barriers,” Wijesinghe said. (Colombo/Mar19/2026)