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Millions of Sri Lankans stayed at home on Wednesday as the government's newly imposed four-day working week for state institutions came into effect, marking the latest emergency measure in a rapidly deepening energy crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East.
Rail and bus stations were largely deserted this week as state institutions, schools and universities shifted to a reduced working schedule, with Wednesday declared a holiday in an effort to cut fuel consumption.
“I am really enjoying the mid-week break because it is a fully paid holiday,” housing ministry official Prarthana Perera, told AFP.
Her office in Battaramulla, the capital’s main administrative hub, remained closed, while banks operated on shorter hours and many private firms introduced work-from-home arrangements.
The measures come as Colombo grapples with severe fuel shortages triggered by the disruption of global energy supplies following the United States and Israel’s military campaign against Iran, and Tehran’s subsequent halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway accounts for around 20 percent of global oil and gas flows and is central to Sri Lanka’s energy imports.
Sri Lanka imports approximately 60 percent of its energy needs and has storage capacity for only about one month’s consumption, leaving the country particularly vulnerable to external shocks. In response, authorities have reintroduced a QR-based fuel rationing system, echoing the measures imposed during the 2022 economic collapse.
Under the current system, motorbikes are allocated eight litres of petrol per week, three-wheelers 20 litres, cars 25 litres, buses 100 litres of diesel and lorries 200 litres.
Even these limited allocations come at a higher cost. Fuel prices have risen by approximately 33 percent since the start of the war, placing further pressure on households already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Bus fares have increased by more than 12 percent, while fertiliser shortages linked to disruptions in global supply chains are expected to drive food prices higher. Researchers have warned that Sri Lanka could see a significant rise in overall food costs in the coming months.
Despite raising fuel prices, the government continues to incur heavy losses. Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa has said the state is absorbing part of the increased global cost in order to prevent a complete collapse in transport and industry.
“What we have increased [in terms of the price at petrol pumps] is less than the hike in the international market,” a Ministry of Energy official told Al Jazeera.
The government has also introduced a series of energy-saving measures, including a target to cut electricity consumption by 25 percent. Street lighting has been reduced, and public sector employees have been urged to use table fans instead of air conditioning.
The private sector has also been drawn into the response. The Chamber of Commerce has urged businesses to adopt remote working where possible, while Sri Lanka’s leading technology firm WSO2 has made working from home mandatory for its employees on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“This is our way of contributing to the national cause,” WSO2 spokeswoman Zaithoon Bin-Ahamed said.
However, there is scepticism over whether these measures will provide more than short-term relief.
“It will not be effective in the long term,” said shipping executive Varuna Perera. “But the government will have a breather for a couple of weeks, to save some energy.”
Environmental lawyer Ravindranath Dabare also questioned the impact of the reduced working week, noting that essential services would continue to operate.
“We can't close hospitals... the doctors and health officials can't work from home,” he said.
The crisis has once again exposed the structural vulnerabilities of Sri Lanka’s economy, including its reliance on imported energy and limited storage capacity. Analysts have warned that without long-term reforms, similar shocks are likely to recur.