The Sri Lankan president has asked Russian president Vladimir Putin to help buy fuel.

Sri Lanka’s president says he has asked Russian president Vladimir Putin to help fuel his bankrupted country, which is facing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he had “very fruitful” talks with Mr Putin.

This comes after Sri Lanka’s energy minister informed about possible danger over the weekend that the country could soon run out of petrol.

On Wednesday, hundred of people protested on the streets of capital city Colombo against the government.

Mr Rajapaksa tweeted, referring to his conversation with the Russian leader, “I have asked for an offer of credit support for fuel imports.”

Mr Rajapaksa also said he had “humbly requested” the resumption of flights between Moscow and Colombo, since Russian flag carrier Aeroflot had suspended services last month.

“We with one accord admit that nourishing bilateral ties in areas such as tourism, trade and culture is the most important factor in strengthening the friendship between our two nations,” he added.

The country has already bought oil from Russia to help boost fuel supplies during the crisis in recent months, and the government has indicated it is ready to buy more from the energy-rich country.

Mr Rajapaksa’s efforts to resolve their country’s worst economic crisis in more than 70 years, including financial support from India and China, have so far failed to end weeks of shortages of fuel, power, food and other essential items.

On Sunday, energy minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the country only had enough petrol left for less than a day under regular demand.

On Sunday, Energy Minister Kanchana Vajsekara said the country had insufficient petrol for less than a day to meet normal demand.

Last week, authorities suspended sales of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles in an attempt to preserve its dwindling fuel stocks.

Last week, authorities suspended sales of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles in an effort to save its decreasing fuel reserves.

On Thursday, Sri Lanka’s central bank raised its key interest rate by one percent to meet the country’s rising cost of living.

The lending rate has been raised to 15.5 per cent, while the deposit rate has been raised to 14.5 per cent, the highest in 21 years.

This comes at a time when annual inflation peaked at 54.6 percent in June as food prices rose more than 80 percent.

The day before, hundreds of protesters had gathered near the parliament building in Colombo on Wednesday, calling for a “last push” to remove Mr Rajapaksa’s government.

This week, the UK resumed consultations against all but the necessary travel to Sri Lanka due to civil unrest in the country.

The State Department warned that holidaymakers could face “demonstrations, roadblocks and violent unrest on short notice.”

The Association of British Insurers said that visiting countries against the advice of the Foreign Office would invalidate one’s travel insurance.