Wasantha Samarasinghe said that working from home is not necessary in Sri Lanka at present despite the global crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking on Thursday (12), the minister said the government is closely monitoring developments and would consider introducing work-from-home arrangements for both public and private sector employees if the situation worsens.
Samarasinghe noted that the ongoing conflict has disrupted global supply chains, leading to higher shipping costs and increasing prices of essential goods in international markets.
He also pointed out that global oil and gas prices have risen, warning that although fuel prices have already been adjusted locally, further increases could occur by April when new fuel shipments arrive at higher costs.
The minister added that some private gas suppliers had attempted to increase prices, but the government is monitoring the situation and taking steps to maintain price stability.
He further urged the public to avoid panic buying and to use resources responsibly, noting that long queues at fuel stations often appear soon after news of global conflicts emerges.
