Sri Lanka declares four-day weekCONSERVING FUEL: State institutions are to operate only four days a week starting tomorrow, with the measures also applying to schools and universitiesAFP, COLOMBOSri Lanka on Monday announced a shorter working week to conserve its scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East. Sri Lankan Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said state institutions would operate only four days a week starting tomorrow. Sri Lanka imports all of its oil and also buys coal for electricity generation. Sri Lanka buys refined petroleum products from Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, while crude oil for its Iran-built refinery is sourced from the Middle East. Sri Lanka defaulted on its US$46 billion foreign debt in 2022 after the country ran out of foreign exchange.

Source: Taipei Times March 17, 2026 17:39 UTC