All Tuition Classes Banned on Wednesday Public Holiday

COLOMBO (News 1st); All tuition classes will be prohibited on Wednesday, a government-declared public holiday, according to Essential Services Commissioner General Prabath Chandrakeerthi.

Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has instructed vice chancellors to take steps to conduct university lectures through online platforms. The decision was taken at a discussion held yesterday, UGC Vice Chairman Professor Wasantha Liyanage said.

It was also decided that students currently residing in university hostels will remain there and continue their academic activities while lectures are conducted online.

The UGC further stated that decisions on granting leave to students and allowing them to return to their homes can be made by the respective vice chancellors of each university.

Government Declares Wednesdays as Weekly Public Holiday:

The government has decided to declare every Wednesday a public holiday for state offices as part of measures to address potential fuel supply challenges arising from ongoing global conflict, Essential Services Commissioner General Prabath Chandrakeerthi announced on Monday (16).

Speaking following a high-level discussion held yesterday afternoon, the Commissioner General said the meeting was chaired by the President and Prime Minister, with the participation of ministers, ministry secretaries, and heads of state institutions. The discussion focused on how the government and the country should prepare for possible fuel shortages in the period ahead.

Based on the decisions taken, Wednesdays will be declared a public holiday for government offices. However, the holiday will not apply to essential services, including the health sector, ports, water services and customs. At the same time, Wednesday will be treated as a holiday for schools, universities and the courts.

In addition, all government-organised ceremonial events have been temporarily suspended until further notice.

As part of wider fuel management measures, the Commissioner General said discussions have been held with representatives of the private sector, including chambers of commerce and trade unions, with the intention of extending these decisions to the private sector as well.

He explained that fuel currently issued through the QR code system has been allocated across all sectors. In addition, calculations are being carried out to determine the essential fuel requirements for key sectors such as tourism, industry, health, agriculture and plantation industries. Based on these assessments, fuel will be issued for transport and distribution activities, including the movement of essential food items, through decisions taken by the relevant ministries.

Four Cabinet Committees Appointed to Manage Services:

The Cabinet has also decided to appoint four special committees to manage the situation. These include a committee to ensure the continuity of public services, an energy committee, a committee on the distribution and monitoring of essential goods, and a welfare committee for various social groups. Ministry secretaries and other essential officials will be appointed to these committees to study the situation and guide future actions.

Under the new arrangements, while Wednesdays will be public holidays for government offices, ministry secretaries and heads of departments will be given the authority to decide how many officials need to be called in, and how essential duties should be carried out. In addition, government services will not operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Commissioner General said that although the country currently has sufficient fuel stocks, these decisions have been taken to anticipate and prepare for possible future challenges. He said the measures are aimed at forecasting potential risks and ensuring the country is ready to respond effectively if fuel supply issues arise.