Govt cancels weekly Wednesday holiday

6 April 2026 05:16 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 17 Bookmark

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Colombo, April 6 (Daily Mirror) - The government has announced the cancellation of the weekly Wednesday holiday granted to public sector offices, with effect from April 8.

In a circular issued to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Secretary, the decision was made in order to ensure the efficient maintenance of essential services across the country.

The directive, issued by Presidential Chief of Staff and Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabhat Chandra Keerthi, said that the provision introduced under Public Administration Circular No. 09/2026 granting a mid-week holiday will no longer be in effect from April 8.

The move is aimed at streamlining government operations and ensuring uninterrupted public service delivery.

Comments - 17

Cassie Monday, 06 April 2026 05:25 PM

And now there's a backlog to clear. It was a short-sighted policy with no foresight or clear aim that brought much inconvenience to the public. This could be a teachable moment.

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Dr Prasad Edirisooriya Monday, 06 April 2026 11:39 PM

This is what happens when persons who cannot get a job as a middle manager in a reputed organisation are elected to run a country. They become gullible to the advice of oligarchs and their stooges.

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Nihal S Monday, 06 April 2026 05:38 PM

"The move is aimed at streamlining government operations and ensuring uninterrupted public service delivery". Wasn't this a consideration 2 weeks ago?

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Sri Monday, 06 April 2026 08:00 PM

Srilankan enjoy to many holidays start by trimming them people should think about sacrificing for the nation.to put the country in a positive frame for investment to come in not the other way around.

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Jude Monday, 06 April 2026 09:04 PM

Most government workers don't do much work in any given day of the week!!!

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Jude Monday, 06 April 2026 09:06 PM

Why the government can't handle the GMOA!??

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Adwani Monday, 06 April 2026 09:07 PM

Upto now only crazy and worthless decisions are being taken and some are subsequently withdrawn, while others creating a burden on public. Some decisions are no more than, mere cosmetics. Such as a bus service from Hendala Junction to Ragama.

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RanjithT Monday, 06 April 2026 09:39 PM

This is typical "Knee Jerk" reaction by an inexperienced government. The conditions two weeks ago has worsened due to electricity tariff hike making the ground situation more vulnerable. The lack of understanding the importance of strategic planning leads to ad hoc decisions. It appears comrades do no learn from past mistakes. Just to name two President issuing dud cheques which is a disgrace, removing decorative parts from vehicles which ended up with nothing. Comrades at least next time think ahead before jumping the gun.

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DM Observer Monday, 06 April 2026 09:58 PM

Three days ago, a foreign news agency quoted an official working for the housing ministry who said, "I am really enjoying the mid-week break because it is a fully paid holiday," I was wondering how long it would take before the authorities took notice of it.

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Dr. Dee esquire Monday, 06 April 2026 10:11 PM

Another ‘sandbag’ strategy! Backfired again

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Brains Monday, 06 April 2026 10:15 PM

Nano solutions of immature brains!!! This administration can't even think of solutions of at least four weeks' time span. Implementing and reversing. Ayyo, my country! What a mistake I made by voting for this administration. I will NEVER repeat this mistake again!!!

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Grace Monday, 06 April 2026 11:30 PM

Rash actions will have serious consequences

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Cheers Tuesday, 07 April 2026 01:19 AM

Anura go home you and your government has ruined the country left right and centre and this is the last hurrah of jvp in our political history

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Rasi Tuesday, 07 April 2026 05:37 AM

Hi Nihal and Cassie, Nice to see you guys are so concerned about government decisions. The government has gone back to a five-day workweek because it has managed to secure the necessary fuel supply through its negotiation skills. You guys may be crying this week if the situation were the other way around, with a huge fuel shortage, with you all saying the government is inexperienced and needs to bring in experts (like Ranil Seeya) to make decisions.

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Nihal Tuesday, 07 April 2026 10:53 AM

Never asked for Ranil or any other parties to take over. We are very happy with out them to Govern the country. The only point is that I could not understand (or they did not explain well enough) on change of directions after 2 weeks. Lets hope they will not go back to Wednesday off again too soon.

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Spartacus Tuesday, 07 April 2026 07:32 AM

Excellent. The public sector is anyway a lethagic lazy entity of this country and the Wednesday Off was like additional cream to the cake.

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melville perera Tuesday, 07 April 2026 08:22 AM

will the banks follow or declare their alternative holiday

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