An extraordinary gazette notification was issued yesterday (28th), declaring several services as essential services. This extraordinary gazette has been issued by the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, by virtue of the powers vested in him under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979.

The Department of Government Information states that this includes all services related to the supply of electricity, fuel, petroleum products, gas supply or distribution, hospitals, dispensaries, passenger or goods transport, as well as state media, including the Government Press.

This order has declared the services mentioned in the schedule below as essential services, taking into account the post-disaster situation caused by Cyclone ‘Ditwa’, and considering that these services are essential to maintain normalcy in public life and that any disruption or hindrance could affect them.

By order of the President, this essential services gazette notification was issued last night (28th) under the signature of the Secretary to the President, Dr. N.S. Kumanayake.

The essential services are as follows:

1. All services connected with the supply of electricity.

2. The supply or distribution of fuel, including petroleum products and gas.

3. All services, work, or labour of any description necessary or required to be done in connection with the maintenance, reception, care, feeding, and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and other similar institutions.

4. Public transport services for passengers or goods.

5. Facilities and maintenance of transport services for roads, railways, or airways, and tourism services, including roads, bridges, culverts, airports, ports, and railway lines.

6. All services connected with water supply and drainage.

7. All services connected with the supply, preservation, and distribution of food and essential items.

8. All services, work, or labour of any nature necessary or required to be performed by field-level officers of all District Secretariats and Divisional Secretariats, including all District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Development Officers, Agricultural Research Assistants, Community Empowerment Officers, and ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ core team officers.

9. Ambulance services.

10. All state banking and insurance services, including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

11. Any function carried out by a local authority and all services performed by local authorities for water supply, electricity, drainage and sewerage systems, firefighting and ambulance services, scavenging and garbage disposal (including the removal and disposal of excreta).

12. All services connected with irrigation.

13. All services connected with telephone, telecommunications, and media.

14. All services connected with the reclamation and development of low-lying areas.

15. All services connected with agricultural and agricultural insurance services.