A 44-year-old man died after suffering a sudden heart attack while waiting in a fuel queue at a filling station in Gonagama, Kurunegala, on 1 March, police said.

The deceased, a resident of the Wella area, had arrived at the Gonagama Co-operative fuel station to obtain petrol for his motorcycle when he reportedly collapsed while standing in line.

A 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance was dispatched to the scene and he was rushed to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. However, hospital sources confirmed that he had died prior to admission.

The incident comes against the backdrop of renewed public concern over fuel availability, with long queues reported at several filling stations across the country in recent days.

The anxiety follows escalating military tensions in the Middle East, which have fuelled speculation over possible disruptions to global oil supplies. Authorities have repeatedly urged the public not to panic, stating that sufficient stocks are available.