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Sri Lanka declares all Wednesdays off to conserve energy

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News.lk

Wednesday Declared Special Government Holiday Amid Fuel Supply Concerns

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Can Sri Lanka embrace a four-day workweek?

Ministry of Public Administration

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The Sri Lankan government announced on Monday that it will implement a four-day workweek until further notice to conserve fuel amid <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/oil-surges-past-amid-iran-attacks-on-gulf-facilities">disruptions to Middle East energy supplies</a> caused by the conflict between Iran, the U.S. and Israel.

The Sri Lankan government announced on Monday that it will implement a four-day workweek until further notice to conserve fuel amid disruptions to Middle East energy supplies caused by the conflict between Iran, the U.S. and Israel.

According to a government circular, the Cabinet of Ministers designated every Wednesday going forward as a government holiday, with duties performed on that day rescheduled for Tuesday, unless a departmental head has reason to decide otherwise.

Department of Government Information

According to a government circular, the Cabinet of Ministers designated every Wednesday going forward as a government holiday, with duties performed on that day rescheduled for Tuesday, unless a departmental head has reason to decide otherwise.

While the four-day work week will apply to schools and universities, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake confirmed that it will not affect the operation of essential services, including hospitals, ports and emergency services. The government is also asking the private sector to follow suit with the initiative.

While the four-day work week will apply to schools and universities, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake confirmed that it will not affect the operation of essential services, including hospitals, ports and emergency services. The government is also asking the private sector to follow suit with the initiative.

In addition, government departments have been ordered to prepare civil servants to work from home where possible, while the government has suspended all public ceremonies for the time being.

In addition, government departments have been ordered to prepare civil servants to work from home where possible, while the government has suspended all public ceremonies for the time being.

The measures follow the country's implementation of a National Fuel Pass along with fuel quotas over the weekend, which limits private motorists to 15 liters of petrol or diesel per week. Lorries, meanwhile, are allocated up to 200 liters.

The measures follow the country's implementation of a National Fuel Pass along with fuel quotas over the weekend, which limits private motorists to 15 liters of petrol or diesel per week. Lorries, meanwhile, are allocated up to 200 liters.

The Sri Lankan government previously announced a four-day working week for the public sector in June 2022, which closed government offices every Friday for three months to allow civil servants to grow food at home during the country's food crisis.

The Sri Lankan government previously announced a four-day working week for the public sector in June 2022, which closed government offices every Friday for three months to allow civil servants to grow food at home during the country's food crisis.

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The Sri Lankan government announced on Monday that it will implement a four-day working week until further notice to conserve fuel amid <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/oil-surges-past-amid-iran-attacks-on-gulf-facilities">disruptions to Middle East energy supplies</a> caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.

The Sri Lankan government announced on Monday that it will implement a four-day working week until further notice to conserve fuel amid disruptions to Middle East energy supplies caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.

According to a government circular, the Cabinet of Ministers designated every Wednesday henceforth as a government holiday, with duties performed on that day rescheduled for Tuesday, unless a departmental head has reason to decide otherwise.

According to a government circular, the Cabinet of Ministers designated every Wednesday henceforth as a government holiday, with duties performed on that day rescheduled for Tuesday, unless a departmental head has reason to decide otherwise.

In addition, government departments have been ordered to "make arrangements" for civil servants to work from home where possible, while the government has suspended all public ceremonies for the time being.

In addition, government departments have been ordered to "make arrangements" for civil servants to work from home where possible, while the government has suspended all public ceremonies for the time being.

The measures follow the country's implementation of a National Fuel Pass along with fuel quotas over the weekend, which limits private motorists to 15 litres of petrol or diesel per week. Lorries, meanwhile, are allocated up to 200 litres.

The measures follow the country's implementation of a National Fuel Pass along with fuel quotas over the weekend, which limits private motorists to 15 litres of petrol or diesel per week. Lorries, meanwhile, are allocated up to 200 litres.

Sri Lanka's cabinet made the right call, shifting to a four-day workweek to conserve fuel amid disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Closing offices every Wednesday is a smart, practical move that maximises Sri Lanka's limited reserves without gutting its essential services. This decision will protect the economy before an oil crisis hits, not after.

Sri Lanka's cabinet made the right call, shifting to a four-day workweek to conserve fuel amid disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Closing offices every Wednesday is a smart, practical move that maximises Sri Lanka's limited reserves without gutting its essential services. This decision will protect the economy before an oil crisis hits, not after.

A four-day workweek sounds like a good solution on paper. Sri Lanka's public sector, however, isn't ready, with inefficiency, poor digital infrastructure and unskilled workers already causing massive delays in a five-day working week. Cutting a day without addressing the underlying dysfunction will only compress the same problems into a shorter timespan.

A four-day workweek sounds like a good solution on paper. Sri Lanka's public sector, however, isn't ready, with inefficiency, poor digital infrastructure and unskilled workers already causing massive delays in a five-day working week. Cutting a day without addressing the underlying dysfunction will only compress the same problems into a shorter timespan.

The US-Iran Conflict

Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images

Sri Lanka Adopts 4-Day Week to Save Fuel

Sri Lanka

Politics

Oil & gasoline

Sri Lanka's cabinet made the right call, shifting to a four-day workweek to conserve fuel amid disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Closing offices every Wednesday is a smart, practical move that maximizes Sri Lanka's limited reserves without gutting its essential services. This decision will protect the economy before an oil crisis hits, not after.

Sri Lanka's cabinet made the right call, shifting to a four-day workweek to conserve fuel amid disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Closing offices every Wednesday is a smart, practical move that maximizes Sri Lanka's limited reserves without gutting its essential services. This decision will protect the economy before an oil crisis hits, not after.

A four-day workweek sounds like a good solution on paper. Sri Lanka's public sector, however, isn't ready, with inefficiency, poor digital infrastructure and an unprepared workforce already causing massive delays in a five-day working week. Cutting a day without addressing the underlying dysfunction will only compress the same problems into a shorter timespan.

A four-day workweek sounds like a good solution on paper. Sri Lanka's public sector, however, isn't ready, with inefficiency, poor digital infrastructure and an unprepared workforce already causing massive delays in a five-day working week. Cutting a day without addressing the underlying dysfunction will only compress the same problems into a shorter timespan.

Sri Lanka Adopts Four-Day Workweek to Save Fuel

Sri Lanka Adopts 4Four-Day WeekWorkweek to Save Fuel

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