Amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a public holiday to save fuel as the island nation grapples with possible fuel shortages following a war between the United States and Israel with Iran.“We must prepare for the worst but also hope for the best,” President Anura Kumar Dissanayake said at an emergency meeting with senior officials on Monday. The announcement is part of a series of preventive measures implemented by several Asian countries since the conflict began.The war has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage that carries millions of barrels of oil from the Gulf to global markets. Nearly 90% of oil and natural gas is shipped to Asia, the world’s largest oil importing region.Other Asian countries have also taken reciprocal measures to deal with the escalating energy crisis. In Thailand, authorities are urging citizens to switch from formal attire to short-sleeved shirts to reduce reliance on air conditioning. Myanmar restricts alternate-day use of private vehicles based on license plate numbers, the BBC reported. Bangladesh has declared a holiday for universities during Ramadan and implemented planned power outages to save electricity. In the Philippines, some government agencies have asked staff to work from home at least one day a week, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has banned non-essential public sector travel. Vietnam encourages citizens to stay at home, use bicycles, carpool or take public transportation, while limiting unnecessary vehicle use.In Sri Lanka, new public holidays affect not only government offices but also schools and universities. Essential services, including health and immigration authorities, will continue to operate. Officials chose Wednesday as a rest day to avoid having government offices closed for three consecutive days.In addition, motorists must now register for a National Fuel Pass to purchase fuel in rationed quantities. The quota is 15 liters for private cars and 5 liters for motorcycles. The rationing system was first introduced in 2022 at the height of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, when the country depleted its foreign exchange reserves and struggled to import essential goods including fuel.Since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran late last month, global oil prices have soared, hovering around $100 a barrel. The war has heightened concerns about supply disruptions in the region, prompting Asian countries to take different measures to deal with the crisis.
