Sri Lanka has introduced a unique measure to conserve fuel amid the ongoing West Asia crisis - declaring every Wednesday a public holiday. According to reports, state institutions will operate only four days a week starting March 18, with the public holiday applying to schools, colleges, and universities, but not to essential services like healthcare, ports, water supplies, and customs.
The decision was made to prepare for the worst-case scenario, but hope for the best, as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reportedly told officials at an emergency meeting. This is not the first measure introduced in Sri Lanka to conserve energy amid the crisis in the Gulf. Earlier, Sri Lanka raised fuel retail prices and launched a fuel rationing system to minimize hoarding.
The Iran-US war, which began on February 28, has sparked an energy crisis across countries, especially raising concerns in Asia, which heavily relies on the Strait of Hormuz for its oil imports. Operations at the key strait have been disrupted by Iranian attacks and targeting of US vessels, while Iran claims the strait is only blocked to its enemies - the US and Israel. Ships from many other countries remain stranded there, further exacerbating the crisis.
