Work-from-home option among measures discussed to overcome energy

The possibility of introducing work-from-home arrangements was among the measures discussed when President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met ministry secretaries and heads of state institutions yesterday to review steps to ensure the uninterrupted provision of essential services amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The meeting, held at the Presidential Secretariat, had examined potential challenges in maintaining operations in key sectors including health, education, industry, agriculture and fisheries, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

During the discussion, ministry secretaries briefed the President on the fuel requirements of their respective sectors and the possible impact of supply constraints under the prevailing global situation.

President Dissanayake instructed officials to explore the feasibility of maintaining regional fuel reserves, particularly to support critical sectors such as healthcare, while also studying the practicality of adopting work-from-home arrangements where possible in order to ensure the continuity of public services while reducing fuel consumption.

Emphasising that developments in the Middle East remain uncertain, the President stressed the need for authorities to remain vigilant and prepared to respond to any emerging challenges.

He also underscored the importance of further strengthening the QR-based fuel management system, directing officials to promptly identify and rectify any shortcomings in the mechanism.

The President instructed relevant authorities to continuously monitor developments and respond swiftly to changing circumstances.

Noting that isolated decisions by individual sectors would be ineffective, President Dissanayake emphasised the need for a coordinated national approach, urging officials to identify alternative solutions and act with mutual understanding to safeguard essential public services.