For two weeks schools have been closed in Sri Lanka, which has been plunged into a financial crisis. The school has been closed as an extreme shortage of gasoline and diesel has begun. Similarly, a large number of staff cuts have been made to government offices.
The Ministry of Public Administration has directed all departments, public institutions, and local levels to cut staff since Monday. ‘It has been decided to make a widespread reduction in the number of staff going to work because of a lack of public transport and the inability to manage private vehicles, ‘the ministry order says.
Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948. Since the end of last year, it has been unable to make payments on imports of essential commodities such as food, medicine, and fuel.
Industry businesses have been affected by hours of long load-shedding. With the financial crisis in place, the public has been calling on President Gotabaya Kingapakse to resign. Meanwhile, the UN has said it will provide food support for the disadvantaged classes in Sri Lanka.