Sri Lanka is now encouraging civic officials to take an extra day off each week to grow crops in their backyards to avoid a future food shortage. The cabinet on Tuesday said in a statement, "It seems appropriate to grant government officials leave for one working day of the week and provide them with the necessary facilities to engage in agricultural activities in their backyards.&nbsp;"The statement mentioned the extra day off as a solution to the impending food shortage and also stated that reducing civil servants’ trips would help with the fuel shortage. Public servants will have every Friday off for the next three months without losing pay. However, this agreement doesn’t apply to essential civic employees, as reported by AFP.

Last week, the United Nations warned the south Asian country with 22 million people facing a ‘dire humanitarian crisis,’ with four out of five people forced to skip meals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nearly-10-per-cent-of-sri-lankas-population-faced-food-shortages-before-covid-19-pandemic-report-487811">Nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population faced food shortages before COVID-19 pandemic: Report</a>

Several vital items, including petrol and medicine, are low in supply due to the island nation’s historic crisis after independence. The country has defaulted on its $51 billion international debt and is currently negotiating a bailout with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Sri Lanka fuel crisis worsens

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According to the government, the 1.5 million members of the public sector who wish to seek work overseas will be granted up to five years of unpaid leave without compromising their pensions and seniority, with the aim of encouraging individuals to work in foreign countries and return to the island to help it recover from its severe scarcity of foreign currency to buy imports.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-risks-full-blown-humanitarian-emergency-un-agency-says-487716">Sri Lanka risks full-blown humanitarian emergency, UN agency says</a>

The public has been protesting for a long time, demanding the resignation of the Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, for the mismanagement of the country and the people facing severe hardships with their necessities. The condition got worse after the covid&nbsp;epidemic because of a monetary shortage, and local tourism.

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(With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka is now encouraging civic officials to take an extra day off each week to grow crops in their backyards to avoid a future food shortage. The cabinet on Tuesday said in a statement, "It seems appropriate to grant government officials leave for one working day of the week and provide them with the necessary facilities to engage in agricultural activities in their backyards.

Sri Lanka is now encouraging civic officials to take an extra day off each week to grow crops in their backyards to avoid a future food shortage. The cabinet on Tuesday said in a statement, "It seems appropriate to grant government officials leave for one working day of the week and provide them with the necessary facilities to engage in agricultural activities in their backyards. "The statement mentioned the extra day off as a solution to the impending food shortage and also stated that reducing civil servants’ trips would help with the fuel shortage. Public servants will have every Friday off for the next three months without losing pay. However, this agreement doesn’t apply to essential civic employees, as reported by AFP. Last week, the United Nations warned the south Asian country with 22 million people facing a ‘dire humanitarian crisis,’ with four out of five people forced to skip meals. Also read | Nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population faced food shortages before COVID-19 pandemic: Report Several vital items, including petrol and medicine, are low in supply due to the island nation’s historic crisis after independence. The country has defaulted on its $51 billion international debt and is currently negotiating a bailout with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Watch | Gravitas: Sri Lanka fuel crisis worsens According to the government, the 1.5 million members of the public sector who wish to seek work overseas will be granted up to five years of unpaid leave without compromising their pensions and seniority, with the aim of encouraging individuals to work in foreign countries and return to the island to help it recover from its severe scarcity of foreign currency to buy imports. Also read | Sri Lanka risks full-blown humanitarian emergency, UN agency says The public has been protesting for a long time, demanding the resignation of the Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, for the mismanagement of the country and the people facing severe hardships with their necessities. The condition got worse after the covid epidemic because of a monetary shortage, and local tourism. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (With inputs from agencies)

Take extra day off, grow crops in your backyards: Crisis-hit Sri Lanka to public servants

Reports said the European Union has offered humanitarian funding for essential assistance to 80,000 poor families in Sri Lanka.

The funding is part of the EU's contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Sri Lankan lawyers have urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to repeal the emergency declaration amid protests in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bar-association-of-sri-lanka-expresses-grave-concern-on-the-state-of-emergency-477068">Also Read:&nbsp;Bar Association of Sri Lanka expresses 'grave concern' on the state of emergency</a>

According to reports, trade unions in the country have threatened to&nbsp;continue&nbsp;strikes while calling for President Rapaksa Gotbaya's resignation.&nbsp;The country was hit by a general strike on Friday as government and private offices remained closed.

Watch:&nbsp;Politics of silence and confusion in Sri Lanka

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The Sri Lankan president had declared a state of emergency amid anti-government protests in the country. The president said an emergency was declared "in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community".

Protesters had clashed with police as tear gas shells were thrown at demonstrators. The country has been hit by food and fuel shortages amid rising inflation.&nbsp;

The UNICEF cautioned adults to avoid exposing children to any form of violence, including during protests amid unstable political condiction in the country.

Sri Lanka's economic woes began during the pandemic as foreign remittances dried up and foreign reserves began depleting. The country had declared it was going to default on foreign debts.

(With inputs from Agencies)

 
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Reports said the European Union has offered humanitarian funding for essential assistance to 80,000 poor families in Sri Lanka. The funding is part of the EU's contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Reports said the European Union has offered humanitarian funding for essential assistance to 80,000 poor families in Sri Lanka. The funding is part of the EU's contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Sri Lankan lawyers have urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to repeal the emergency declaration amid protests in the country. Also Read: Bar Association of Sri Lanka expresses 'grave concern' on the state of emergency According to reports, trade unions in the country have threatened to continue strikes while calling for President Rapaksa Gotbaya's resignation. The country was hit by a general strike on Friday as government and private offices remained closed. Watch: Politics of silence and confusion in Sri Lanka The Sri Lankan president had declared a state of emergency amid anti-government protests in the country. The president said an emergency was declared "in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community". Protesters had clashed with police as tear gas shells were thrown at demonstrators. The country has been hit by food and fuel shortages amid rising inflation. The UNICEF cautioned adults to avoid exposing children to any form of violence, including during protests amid unstable political condiction in the country. Sri Lanka's economic woes began during the pandemic as foreign remittances dried up and foreign reserves began depleting. The country had declared it was going to default on foreign debts. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Sri Lanka crisis: EU to provide humanitarian funding; Bangladesh provides medical supplies

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Take extra day off, grow crops in your backyards: Crisis-hit Sri Lanka to public servants

Sri Lanka crisis: EU to provide humanitarian funding; Bangladesh provides medical supplies