Gas scarcity force closure of 60% canteens, hotels, bakeries: Assn.

More than 60% of the hotels, restaurants, and bakeries across the country have been closed due to power, fuel, and gas scarcity, canteen, hotel, and bakery owners' associations said.

They said many people who make their living providing food are in grave difficulties.

Meanwhile, All Island Canteen Owners' Association (AICOA) Head Asela Sampath said more than 60% of canteens, hotels, bakeries and food processing institutions have been closed in Colombo city namely, Borella and Maradana due to the absence of gas. He urged the government to provide immediate solutions to provide sufficient gas. If not, the whole country would be made to starve.

The hotel owners said the gas in hand with them hardly sufficient for one or two days. There are no other means for us to earn a living after that. They charged that they could not even find kerosene as alternative fuel to continue with Thier business.

The unavailability of gas has also affected the  crematoria in several areas. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)