Gazette issued extending declaration of several services including electricity supply as essential service

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an extraordinary gazette notification extending the declaration of a number of services, including the supply of electricity and fuel, as essential services.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by virtue of the powers vested in him in terms of Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979 has issued the gazette notification to prevent the disruption services offered by several individuals and institutions due to the post-disaster situation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Services declared as essential services:

1. All services connected to the supply of electricity
2. The supply or distribution of fuel, including petroleum products and gas
3. All service, work or labour, of any description whatsoever, necessary or required to be done in connection with the maintenance, and the reception, care feeding and treatment, of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries,
and other similar institution
4. Public transport services for the transportation of passengers or goods
5. The Facilitation and maintenance of transportation services and tourism services by road, rail, or air, including highways, bridges, culverts, airports, ports, and railways
6. All services connected to the supply of water and drainage
7. All services connected with the supply, safeguard, and distribution of food and essential commodities
8. All type of services, works, or labour contributions which should be carried out or required to be carried out by District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Development Officers, Agricultural Research Assistants, Community Empowerment Officers, Officers of the Clean Sri Lanka Centralized Team, including all field level officers of all District and Divisional Secretariats.
9. Ambulance services
10. All state banking and insurance services including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
11. Any services carried out by any Local Authorities for the supply of water, electricity, drainage and sewerage systems, fire-fighting and ambulance services, scavenging and the removal of garbage (including the carriage and disposal of feces), and all services carried out by Local Authorities
12. All services connected to the irrigation
13. All services connected to the telephone, telecommunication, and media
14. All services connected to the reclamation and development of low-lying lands
15. All services connected to the agriculture and agricultural insurance services