Earlier, the government had ordered its employees to work from home for next couple of weeks.
New Delhi: A couple of days after announcing work from home for its public sector employees due to fuel shortage, Sri Lanka government has announced to shut down schools. The decision to this effect has been taken amid reports of massive power shortage in the island nation. The government has asked to conduct online classes instead of physical classes, as per the Sri Lanka Education Ministry.
According to the reports, classes will be held in online mode as all the schools to shut down for the coming week. “Due to prolonged power cuts, all government, government approved private schools in the capital city and other major towns will not be opened for a week,” the reports had said.
Earlier, the government had ordered its employees to work from home for next couple of weeks. The decision to this effect was reportedly taken after severe fuel shortage since last few months.
Also Read: Sri Lanka: Amid fuel crisis, 2 weeks work from home for government employees
As per the reports, the government has been facing hardships to make payment in foreign currencies for fuel imports. On some occasions, the government was unable to pay foreign currencies for oil shipment stationed at its ports. Though the government has been assuring to improve the situation but series of protests in the form of arson and vandalism reveals sordid state of affairs.
Also Read: Amid worst ever economic downturn, thousands protest outside Sri Lanka Prez’s house
Among the employees of public sectors, those in health care services were not be allowed work from home as they will have to report for duty at their offices. As per the report, there are nearly 10 lakh employees associated with the government.
The government, in order to cope with a chronic fuel crisis, had approved a four-day work week for public sector employees. The government has aldo urged them to grow food.
A couple of weeks ago, Australian cricketers on had also appealed to support the country which has been going through worst ever economic crisis. Australia cricket team is on Sri Lanka visit to play T20, ODIs and Test matches and the appeal was made by its players to support United Nation’s campaign in favour the island nation. United Nations has appealed the world to buy urgently needed food and life-saving medicines for Sri Lanka.
Also Read: Australian cricketers appeal to help crisis-hit Sri Lanka
Team Australia urged people extend their support to Sri Lanka. Australian cricketers Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith said they are encouraging friends to “assist in any way they can” in the UN’s appeal for dollar 47.2 million of emergency funds for the crisis-hit country. The video was uploaded by the Australian High Commission in Colombo.
