🚨 15 Sectors Declared Essential Services Amid Post-Disaster Relief

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially declared 15 categories of public services as essential under the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979. Issued via an Extraordinary Gazette on May 28, the directive aims to guarantee the uninterrupted functioning of critical state institutions and public life during ongoing post-disaster recovery efforts across Sri Lanka. • Core Infrastructure & Utilities: Covers the supply of electricity, fuel and gas distribution, water supply, drainage, and waste management/sanitation services handled by local authorities. • Transport & Logistics: Encompasses public transport, road and railway networks, alongside vital international gateways including airport and port operations. • Healthcare & Emergency: Secures continuous operations for hospitals, medical care facilities, and emergency ambulance services. • Public Administration & Welfare: Brings key field-level officers—including District and Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi officers, and agricultural research assistants—under the essential services mandate to streamline emergency response. • Finance & Communication: Ensures stability in State banking and insurance services, telecommunications, and media operations. • Agriculture & Supply Chains: Mandates uninterrupted food and essential goods distribution, irrigation services, land reclamation, and agricultural services (including crop insurance). _Note: This framework enforces legal continuity across departments, corporations, and cooperative societies to preserve economic stability and public welfare during the crisis._