Perhaps no country illustrates the human cost of the crisis more vividly than Sri Lanka, which announced a four-day work week for its entire public sector in an effort to conserve fuel. Essential services — including hospitals, ports, water supply, and customs — will continue operating every day, but the rest of the government will effectively shut down one day per week.
For a nation still recovering from its devastating 2022 economic collapse, the measure is a painful reminder of how quickly energy shocks can reshape daily life in vulnerable economies.