COLOMBO — Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since it gained independence from Britain in 1948.

Food shortages, soaring prices and power cuts have left the government requesting emergency financial help.

One sector badly affected is the fishing industry in the country's north. A lack of fuel, ice and marketing options has resulted in entire communities being without work.

Sri Lanka’s fishing industry is facing the brunt of the economic crisis that the island country is embroiled in with fishermen facing acute fuel shortages for their boats unable to head out to sea.

According to a report, fishing is a major livelihood for Northern Tamils and the fuel shortage in the crisis-hit country has paralyzed the industry.

Local media reported that the fishermen in the northern part of the country who typically fish on alternate days are unable to venture into the seas even once in a week.

A country boat requires 30 liters of kerosene for a day’s fishing whereas now they are able to just about manage only 20 liters once in a week.

The deep economic crisis in the country continues to worsen with the Forex reserves plummeting to $500 million.

Apart from that, the scarcity of ice bars used to preserve fish and the unavailability of transportation to take the catch to Colombo and other places for sale have crippled the livelihoods of the fishermen.

The fishermen in Analaitivu, Nainativu, and other areas of the Jaffna district are the most affected as they are even not able to come to Jaffna to purchase kerosene.

While Sri Lanka has been going through a severe economic crisis, India is providing a financial package to Colombo so that it can meet some of the more immediate needs and help stabilize its domestic economy. — Agencies