Sri Lanka, June 4 -- In dealing with the fallout of the Middle East crisis, the government urgently needs to reduce diesel consumption by another 500 tonnes a day, but no specific measure has been agreed upon yet, a Minister said yesterday.

Sri Lanka, like many other countries, is grappling with the rising fuel prices.

Energy Minister Aruna Karunatilake told Daily Mirror that daily diesel consumption had averaged at around 4200 tonnes after the distribution was rationalized under a QR code system. He said that it should be reduced by at least another 500 tonnes to save on foreign exchange.

However, he said that the government had not firmed up any specific action.

Following the surge of global oil prices as a result of the Middle East...