Colombo, March 17 Sri Lanka currently has sufficient fuel reserves to last until mid-May, according to the island nation's Energy Minister, Kumara Jayakodi, who made the statement to parliament on Tuesday.
The minister's statement comes in the context of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US and Israel, which has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway that is crucial for global energy supplies.
"We have enough petrol until April 23 and diesel until April 13," Jayakodi told the opposition in response to a question.
His statement comes as the government launched fuel rationing through a QR code on Monday.
However, long queues were seen at most fuel retailers on Tuesday.
The queues on Tuesday were due to technical issues with the implementation of the code, officials said.
Sri Lanka is also set to observe a four-day work week, starting on Wednesday, with the day declared a public holiday, for the first time in its history.
All state institutions and schools will remain closed every Wednesday, except for essential services, as a contingency measure to address the emerging fuel shortage.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a televised address, further highlighted the potential negative effects of the conflict on fuel reserves.
He said that delays in the delivery of three shipments of crude oil have been reported as of Tuesday due to ongoing supply challenges.
Sri Lanka had raised oil prices last week, aiming to discourage hoarding.