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Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948. The heavily import-reliant South Asian nation no longer has enough dollar reserves to buy essential items like food, medicine, fuel to power vehicles or even generate electricity. People have been suffering power cuts of up to 13 hours, massive inflation and a shortage of food and basic goods. Public frustration over the crisis has seen peaceful demonstrations held since January. But the situation has escalated in the last fortnight, with many more people taking to the streets. Despite calls from the public and political opponents, Sri Lanka's beleaguered president Gotabaya Rajapaksa said earlier this week that he would not be resigning. Dr Gotabaya Ranasinghe is a consultant cardiologist at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo. He says they don't have enough money to buy essential medicines from abroad and so "the country is facing "an acute shortage of essential drugs. I know for a fact we are heading into a grave medical crisis." Photo shows: Members of the Government Medical Officers' Association hold placards during a silent demonstration against Sri Lanka's deepening economic crisis in Colombo on April 6, 2022. Credit: Getty Images
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