Government schools to close on Wednesdays amid fuel shortage

The Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewe, has declared that all government schools in Sri Lanka will be closed on Wednesdays due to the ongoing fuel supply issues. He mentioned to Ada Derana that this choice aligns with the government's decision to give public sector workers a day off each Wednesday. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pointed out that, given the current difficulties, steps are being taken to use energy wisely while keeping essential services and economic activities running in the country. These comments were made during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, where officials discussed immediate actions needed to ensure energy security and maintain key services and economic functions. The meeting included several Ministers and Ministry Secretaries, who talked about how to keep public services active during this challenging time. As a result, Commissioner General of Essential Services, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, announced that all public sector workers will receive leave every Wednesday starting tomorrow (17) until further notice, due to fuel shortages. He also mentioned that this leave will extend to schools, universities, and the judicial system. However, essential services like healthcare, ports, water supply, and railways will continue their operations as normal, and the Wednesday leave policy will not apply to these areas. Additionally, the Cabinet of Ministers has set up four main committees to evaluate the current situation and guide future decisions, as noted by the Commissioner General.