Sri Lankan government has approved a four-day work week on Tuesday to let public sector employees grow their own food as the country continues to struggle.

The cabinet approved a proposal late on Monday for public sector workers to be given leave on every Friday for the next three months to encourage them to grow their own food, in the wake of the difficulties in commuting to work due to fuel shortages.

"It seems appropriate to grant government officials leave of one working day ... to engage in agricultural activities in their backyards or elsewhere as a solution to the food shortage that is expected," the government information office said in a statement.

The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis last week, and plans to provide USD 47 million to help more than a million vulnerable people.

The Sri Lankan government is in talks for a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund and a delegation is expected in Colombo on June 20.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said earlier this month that the island nation needs at least US$5 billion to meet essential imports for the rest of the year.