With severe shortage of food, cooking gas, and other essential items, sky-rocketing fuel prices and record-high inflation, Sri Lanka is battling its worst economic crisis in over several decades.

A critical shortfall of foreign currency had led to a massive reduction in imports of essential items.

This nightmarish situation has crippled the lives of common citizens who have been waiting in long queues across the country for groceries and fuel. At least two elderly men reportedly died in different parts of the country waiting for petrol and kerosene oil. 

As anger against the government grows, troops have been deployed outside state-run petrol pumps to thwart protests that have been breaking out sporadically.


The economic meltdown has also affected millions of students, with the country cancelling school exams after running out of printing paper. Amid dwindling fuel supplies, there have also been long spells of power outage for several weeks now, with some blackouts lasting for as long as seven hours.

Unable to eke out a living at home, some citizens are even resorting to flee to India. So far, a total of 16 Sri Lankan refugees from Jaffna and Mannar arrived at Tamil Nadu in a boat, on 22 March in hopes of restarting their lives.

But what are the various factors that led to such an unprecedented scale of economic crisis in the first place? How did the country fall into this vortex of debts? What is Sri Lanka doing to stave off this crisis? As India extends $1-billion line of credit as assistance to the cash-strapped nation, will this move help India geopolitically?

Our two guests for this episode are Satpatarshi Basak, Writer, International News Desk at The Quint and Sathiya Moorthy Head of Observer Research Foundation’s Chennai Initiative. Moorthy has also been the editorial advisor at a trilingual TV group in Sri Lanka.

Host and Producer: Shorbori PurkayasthaEditor: Shelly Walia

Guests: 

Satpatarshi Basak, Writer, International News Desk at The Quint 
NSathiya Moorthy Head of Observer Research Foundation’s Chennai Initiative. Moorthy has also been the editorial advisor at a trilingual TV group in Sri Lanka.
Music: Big Bang Fuzz
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<div>With severe shortage of food, cooking gas, and other essential items, sky-rocketing fuel prices and record-high inflation, Sri Lanka is battling its worst economic crisis in over several decades.<br>
<br>

</div>
<div>A critical shortfall of foreign currency had led to a massive reduction in imports of essential items.<br>
<br>

</div>
<div>This nightmarish situation has crippled the lives of common citizens who have been waiting in long queues across the country for groceries and fuel. At least two elderly men reportedly died in different parts of the country waiting for petrol and kerosene oil. <br>
<br>

</div>
<div>As anger against the government grows, troops have been deployed outside state-run petrol pumps to thwart protests that have been breaking out sporadically.<br>
<br>
The economic meltdown has also affected millions of students, with the country cancelling school exams after running out of printing paper. Amid dwindling fuel supplies, there have also been long spells of power outage for several weeks now, with some blackouts lasting for as long as seven hours.<br>
<br>

</div>
<div>Unable to eke out a living at home, some citizens are even resorting to flee to India. So far, a total of 16 Sri Lankan refugees from Jaffna and Mannar arrived at Tamil Nadu in a boat, on 22 March in hopes of restarting their lives.<br>
<br>

</div>
<div>But what are the various factors that led to such an unprecedented scale of economic crisis in the first place? How did the country fall into this vortex of debts? What is Sri Lanka doing to stave off this crisis? As India extends $1-billion line of credit as assistance to the cash-strapped nation, will this move help India geopolitically?<br>
<br>

</div>
<div>Our two guests for this episode are Satpatarshi Basak, Writer, International News Desk at <strong>The Quint </strong>and Sathiya Moorthy Head of Observer Research Foundation’s Chennai Initiative. Moorthy has also been the editorial advisor at a trilingual TV group in Sri Lanka.<br>
<br>
<strong>Host and Producer: </strong>Shorbori Purkayastha</div>
<div>
<strong>Editor:</strong> Shelly Walia<br>
Guests: <br>
Satpatarshi Basak, Writer, International News Desk at <strong>The Quint <br>
</strong>N<strong> </strong>Sathiya Moorthy Head of Observer Research Foundation’s Chennai Initiative. Moorthy has also been the editorial advisor at a trilingual TV group in Sri Lanka.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>
<strong>Music:</strong> Big Bang Fuzz</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><strong>Listen to The Big Story podcast on:</strong></div>
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The Big Story is back with a second season!

The news culture of our times is noisy, crowded, and honestly so confusing. This is why we are coming every fortnight on your podcast platforms to help you make sense of the new and now. 

With two new hosts, Anjali and Prateek, the second season of The Big Story will feature longer and well-rounded discussions with experts across science, culture, technology, politics, and more. Tune in on your preferred podcast platform!   



Millions of listeners seek out Bingepods (Ideabrew Studios Network content) every day. Get in touch with us to advertise, join the network or click listen to  enjoy content by some of India's top audio creators.
studio@ideabrews.com

Android | Apple

<p>The Big Story is back with a second season!</p>
<p>The news culture of our times is noisy, crowded, and honestly so confusing. This is why we are coming every fortnight on your podcast platforms to help you make sense of the new and now. <br aria-hidden="true"><br aria-hidden="true">With two new hosts, Anjali and Prateek, the second season of The Big Story will feature longer and well-rounded discussions with experts across science, culture, technology, politics, and more. Tune in on your preferred podcast platform!   </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Millions of listeners seek out <a href="https://bingepods.com/">Bingepods</a> (Ideabrew Studios Network content) every day. Get in touch with us to advertise, join the network or click listen to  enjoy content by some of India's top audio creators.</em><br><em><a href="mailto:studio@ideabrews.com">studio@ideabrews.com</a></em></p>
<p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bingepods.app">Android</a> | <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bingepods/id1637568609">Apple</a></p>

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