• Government designates Wednesdays off to cut fuel use

• Four-day week applies to schools and universities, essential services excluded

Sri Lanka has announced that Wednesdays will be official holidays for public institutions as part of efforts to reduce fuel consumption amid global energy shortages.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at an emergency meeting with senior officials: "We must prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best."

The move is part of broader austerity measures adopted across Asia to tackle rising energy costs. In Thailand, citizens are encouraged to swap suits for short-sleeved shirts to reduce air conditioning use, while Myanmar restricts private vehicles to alternate days based on license plates.

Bangladesh advanced Ramadan university holidays and introduced planned electricity cuts to save energy. In the Philippines, some government offices require staff to work from home at least once a week, and non-essential public sector travel is banned, alongside financial support for tricycle drivers, farmers, and fishermen.

Vietnam urges citizens to stay home more, use bicycles, carpool, and rely on public transport to conserve fuel.

In Sri Lanka, the new four-day week also applies to schools and universities, excluding essential services such as healthcare. Wednesday was chosen instead of Friday to avoid three consecutive days of office closures.

Drivers are now required to register for a National Fuel Pass limiting fuel purchases to 15 liters for private cars and 5 liters for motorcycles, sparking some public dissatisfaction.

This rationing system was first introduced in 2022 during the country’s worst economic crisis when foreign reserves ran out, leaving Sri Lanka unable to import essential goods or fuel.

Oil prices have risen since last month, currently hovering around $100 per barrel.