Sri Lanka Implements Four-Day Workweek to Save Fuel, Wednesday Off

The Sri Lankan government has established a four-day workweek policy, making every Wednesday a holiday for many state institutions. This measure is part of efforts to save energy amid threats of fuel shortages due to disrupted global supplies. The policy emerges as the South Asian island nation faces new pressures on its energy sector, triggered by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East. The Sri Lankan government has stipulated that government agencies, schools, and universities will operate only four days a week. According to The Guardian on Wednesday (18/3/2026), civil servants are also encouraged to work from home if possible to reduce fuel consumption for transportation. Sri Lanka’s Commissioner General for Essential Services, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, stated that the government is also requesting the private sector to follow the policy by setting an additional holiday every Wednesday. According to reports from The Times of India, the policy is being implemented as the government anticipates potential supply shortages due to disruptions in energy distribution routes from the Gulf region. Energy supply disruptions in Sri Lanka are linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which are affecting major global oil and gas shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for energy shipments to South Asia, has reportedly been impacted by the security situation, raising concerns about supply shortages. The government estimates that available stocks of petrol and diesel are sufficient for only a few weeks if new supplies do not arrive soon. This situation has prompted the government to implement broader energy-saving policies, including restrictions on fuel purchases for the public and reduced operating hours for public institutions. Amid supply pressures, the Sri Lankan government has also approved emergency fuel purchases on the spot market to cover a shortfall of more than 90,000 metric tons of crude oil.