Sri Lanka, April 16 -- Sri Lanka has paid as much as $286 for a single barrel of oil - far above global benchmark prices - according to a top international banker.

The revelation was made by Georges Elhedery, CEO of HSBC, during an investment forum held in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Elhedery noted that while benchmark oil prices in Western markets hover around $100-$110 per barrel, the actual prices paid by buyers in parts of Asia can be significantly higher due to supply disruptions linked to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

"What worries me is not the headlines," he said, explaining that real market conditions paint a far more alarming picture.

According to him, buyers sourcing oil from the Middle East are currently paying between $14...