President orders establishment of Office of Commissioner General of Essential Services

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed the establishment of an Office of the Commissioner General of Essential Services, based at the Prime Minister’s Office, to coordinate nationwide efforts to restore normalcy for communities affected by the recent disaster.

The new operations centre will function under the leadership of the Director General of Essential Services and will bring together several key ministries, including Public Administration, Transport and Highways, Agriculture and Irrigation, and Housing and Water Supply. Agencies such as Sri Lanka Railways, the Department of Irrigation, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Road Development Authority, and the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation will also be integrated into the centre’s operations.

A team of representatives from the Tri-Forces will support coordination and emergency response activities.

The President emphasised that the centre must operate as a unified command hub, ensuring smooth coordination and facilitation across all institutions involved.

These directives were issued during a meeting held this morning (30) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss urgent measures needed to restore essential services and stabilise daily life as the disaster situation begins to ease.