Crisis-hit Sri Lanka is forced to reserve a portion of its scarce fuel supplies for the cremation of Buddhists, whose funeral rites have been disrupted.

The bankrupt nation, with 22 million people, have faced months of food, petrol and medicine shortages after traders ran out of money to import essentials.

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It is reported that several cemeteries outside Colombo had cancelled cremation services after running out of liquefied petroleum gas, instead offering burials to bereaved families.

Reports state that a gas shipment that arrived in port on Tuesday will be allocated to cemeteries and other priority industries, including Sri Lanka’s flagging tourism sector.

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On Tuesday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said, “We will supply bulk users — that is hotels, hospitals and crematoriums.” 

Most of Sri Lanka’s people are Buddhist, whose adherents are traditionally cremated, while its minority Christians and Muslims opt for burials.

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In 2021, the government was criticised for suspending burials and forcing Muslim mourners to cremate their loved ones under Covid-19 pandemic rules.

Sri Lanka is facing rampant inflation and the cost of dying has increased sharply.

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A one-day funeral service that cost 380,000 rupees ($1,900) in December is now more than double, excluding crematorium charges.

Unrelenting fuel shortages have severely impacted power generation and transport since the end of last year, with regular blackouts across the island and long queues of motorists outside filling stations.