Sri Lanka declares Wednesdays non-working to conserve fuel

Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a holiday for public institutions to conserve fuel as the island nation grapples with possible shortages in the wake of the war in the Middle East, the BBC writes.

“We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best,” President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at an emergency meeting with senior officials on Monday.

Amid the war in the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz is nearly closed; previously, millions of barrels of oil were transported from the Persian Gulf to Asia through the strait.

Other countries in Asia have also implemented energy-saving measures amid growing concerns about fuel. In Thailand, people have been urged to wear short-sleeved shirts to reduce air conditioning use. In Bangladesh, Ramadan holidays have been moved forward, and power outages are being implemented across the country. In the Philippines, employees of some government institutions work from home one day a week, while in Vietnam, citizens have been urged to stay at home, use bicycles, and limit the use of personal vehicles.