Sri Lanka government workers get Fridays off to grow food ahead of shortages

Public sector employees also encouraged to find work overseas and send money home amid unprecedented economic crisis

Sri Lanka is asking government workers to take an extra day off each week to grow crops in their back yards in a bid to forestall a looming food shortage.

An unprecedented economic downturn has left several staple foods in short supply, along with petrol and medicines, and high inflation is ravaging household budgets.