Sri Lanka has announced a temporary shift to a four-day working week, declaring every Wednesday a public holiday, as the government prepares for potential fuel shortages triggered by escalating tensions in the West Asia region.
The decision, which comes into effect from March 18, was taken as part of contingency measures to conserve fuel and ensure continuity of essential services.
Wednesday declared weekly public holiday
Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said that all state institutions will operate only four days a week until further notice. The new arrangement will apply to schools, universities and the judiciary, while essential sectors such as healthcare, ports, water supply and customs will continue to function as usual.
The government has also urged the private sector to adopt similar measures to reduce fuel consumption across the country.
Decision taken amid worsening energy concerns
The move follows a high-level emergency meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, where officials reviewed strategies to manage public services in the face of potential energy disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Authorities indicated that the situation could worsen if fuel supplies are disrupted further, prompting the need for immediate conservation efforts.
Fuel rationing and price hike implemented
In recent days, Sri Lanka has already introduced several steps to manage fuel demand. Retail fuel prices were increased last week to discourage hoarding, and a nationwide rationing system came into effect on Sunday.
Under the new system, private motorists are limited to purchasing up to 15 litres of fuel per week, while public transport operators are allocated higher quotas to maintain services.
Despite these measures, long queues have been reported at fuel stations, reflecting public anxiety over supply shortages.
Global tensions disrupt supply chains
The government attributed the crisis to disruptions in global oil supply routes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor for energy shipments. Escalating conflict in the region has impacted shipping traffic, raising concerns over the availability of fuel imports.
Sri Lanka, which relies entirely on imported fuel, sources refined petroleum products from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, while crude oil for its refinery is largely sourced from the Middle East.
Additional austerity measures announced
Alongside the reduced work week, the government has announced further austerity steps, including suspending public ceremonies and encouraging work-from-home arrangements where possible.
Officials said the country’s current fuel reserves are expected to last around six weeks, but warned that any further disruption in supply could significantly impact the economy.
Economic recovery at risk
Sri Lanka is still recovering from its 2022 economic crisis, when it defaulted on USD 46 billion in foreign debt after running out of foreign exchange reserves. The country has since secured a USD 2.9 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.
Authorities cautioned that prolonged instability in global energy markets could derail recovery efforts and place additional strain on the island nation’s fragile economy.
(With inputs from PTI and AFP)