Prakash Kafle/Kathmandu. In a drastic move to manage a severe energy shortage, the Sri Lankan government has officially transitioned to a four-day work week, declaring every Wednesday a public holiday. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced the measure following an emergency meeting, stating that the nation must “prepare for the worst-case scenario” as tensions in the Middle East disrupt global oil supplies and push prices toward $100 per barrel. The new holiday mandate applies to all government offices, schools, and universities, strategically choosing Wednesday to avoid a three-day consecutive closure that could paralyze administrative functions.
Beyond the reduced work week, the government has reinstated the mandatory National Fuel Pass QR system to ration supplies, limiting private cars to 15 liters and motorcycles to 5 liters per week. While essential services such as healthcare, ports, and emergency facilities remain operational, civil servants are being encouraged to work from home where possible, and public ceremonies have been suspended indefinitely. This austerity push reflects a broader energy emergency across Asia, triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Sri Lanka now in active negotiations with India and Russia to secure alternative energy shipments and avoid a total economic shutdown.
