On Wednesday mornings in Colombo, the schools are quiet. The courts are closed. Government offices sit empty, lights off, computers unplugged. The capital of Sri Lanka has deleted a day from its week. It is not a holiday. It is a fuel-saving measure, and it is the most visible sign that the crisis at the Strait of Hormuz, now in its tenth week, has begun to reshape daily life across Asia.
Since 18 March, every Wednesday has been a public holiday in Sri Lanka for government workers, schools and universities. The country has reactivated a National Fuel Pass system that once rationed petrol during its 2022 economic collapse. Sri Lanka had roughly six weeks of fuel reserves when the four-day week was declared.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow strip of water between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, normally carries about a fifth of the world's oil. Most traffic stopped in early March when Iran closed the strait following the war that began on 28 February. Around 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been stranded in the Persian Gulf.
For the Philippines, which imports roughly 98 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, the situation has been difficult. On 24 March, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency. Government offices moved to a four-day work week.
On 31 March, the Philippines opened discussions with Iran. Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro received assurances of safe passage for Philippine vessels and energy shipments through the strait.
Across Asia, countries have taken urgent action. Vietnam scrapped tariffs on fuel imports. Thailand froze diesel prices. India cut excise duties and sent naval ships to escort tankers. The UN estimates 45.5 million people across Asia now need humanitarian assistance.