President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an Extraordinary Gazette declaring a wide range of services as essential public services under the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, in view of the severe adverse weather conditions currently affecting the country.

The order, published on Friday, November 28, 2025, states that disruptions to these services would endanger the life of the community and therefore must continue without interruption. The declaration applies to services provided by public corporations, government departments, local authorities and cooperative societies engaged in critical operations.

Among the services declared essential are electricity supply, fuel distribution including petroleum and gas, water supply and drainage, public transport, healthcare services, ambulance services, telecommunications, media services, irrigation, and banking and insurance services including those of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The declaration also covers the supply and distribution of food and essential commodities, maintenance of road, rail and air transport infrastructure, hospital care and allied health services, as well as services carried out by district and divisional secretariats, Grama Niladharis and other field officers involved in emergency response and public administration.

Additionally, local authority services such as garbage removal, fire-fighting, sewerage and sanitation have been included as essential to ensure uninterrupted public health and safety operations during the ongoing crisis.

The proclamation was made in consideration of the likelihood that ongoing extreme weather could impede or interrupt vital services required for the daily life and safety of the public.

The order was signed by Secretary to the President Dr. N. S. Kumanayake, acting on the authority of the President.