A cargo ship sets sail from the Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) in Colombo on March 17, 2026. Sri Lanka announced a shorter work week to conserve its scarce fuel reserves as it prepares for a prolonged war in the Middle East, officials said on March 16, 2026. The government has warned that any escalation in fighting in the Middle East could seriously undermine its efforts to emerge from the economic meltdown of 2022. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images)