Essential services declared under Emergency regulations following Cyclone Ditwah

Colombo, April 29 (Daily Mirror) - A Gazette Extraordinary has declared a wide range of public services as essential in response to the post-disaster situation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. 

The order, issued under the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, was made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and formalised through a notification signed by Secretary to the President Dr. N. S. Kumanayake on April 28, 2026. 

According to the Gazette, the declaration applies to services provided by public corporations, government departments, local authorities, cooperative societies and their branches, considering their importance to the life of the community and the risk of disruption due to the disaster situation. 

The essential services include electricity supply, fuel and gas distribution, healthcare services, public transport, and the maintenance of transport infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports and ports.

In addition, water supply and drainage, food distribution, agriculture-related services, irrigation, and telecommunications have also been classified as essential. 

The order further covers ambulance services, state banking and insurance services, and a wide range of administrative functions carried out by district and divisional secretariats, including field-level officers such as Grama Niladharis and Samurdhi Development Officers. 

Local authority services such as waste management, firefighting, and sewerage operations are also included under the essential services category. 

The move is aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of critical services and maintaining normalcy in the country amid ongoing recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. 

The gazette notofication as follows: