Sri Lanka has suspended sales of fuel for non-essential vehicles as it faces its worst economic crisis in decades.

For the next two weeks only buses, trains, and vehicles used for medical services and transporting food will be allowed to fill up with fuel.

Schools in urban areas have shut and officials have told the country's 22 million residents to work from home.

The South Asian nation is in talks over a bailout deal as it struggles to pay for imports such as fuel and food.

On Monday, the government said it will ban private vehicles from buying petrol and diesel until 10 July.

Bandula Gunewardena, a spokesperson for Sri Lanka's cabinet, said Sri Lanka "has never faced such a severe economic crisis in its history".
 
The cash-strapped country has also sent officials to the major energy producers Russia and Qatar in a bid to secure cheap oil supplies.