– President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a wide range of public services as essential services under the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, in view of the post-disaster situation caused by the cyclone.In an extraordinary gazette notification issued today (28), the President said the declaration was made to ensure the continuation of services necessary for the maintenance of normal life and to prevent any obstruction or disruption to critical public functions.The gazette covers services provided by State Corporations, Government Departments, Local Government Institutions and Cooperative Societies engaged in key sectors.

Among the services declared essential are electricity supply, petroleum and fuel distribution including gas, water supply and drainage, public transport, telecommunications and media services, irrigation, agriculture and agricultural insurance services.Hospital and healthcare-related services, including the care, feeding and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes and dispensaries, have also been classified as essential services.The declaration further includes ambulance services, state banking and insurance services including those of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and all functions carried out by local authorities relating to water, electricity, sewage, fire and waste management services.

Field-level officers attached to District and Divisional Secretariats, including Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Development Officers, Agricultural Research Assistants, Community Empowerment Officers and Clean Sri Lanka Central Team officers, have also been brought under the essential services category.The gazette also identifies services connected to roads, bridges, airports, ports, railways and tourism, as well as reclamation and development of low-lying lands, as essential.

The order was signed by the President on May 28, 2026.