The gazette was issued by Presidential Secretary Dr. N. S. Kumanayake. The extension comes in light of the disaster situation caused by the recent “Ditwa” cyclone, which has significantly impacted the country.
Authorities stated that the decision was taken to ensure public safety, maintain normalcy, and guarantee the continuous supply of essential goods and services required for daily life.
Under this extended emergency status, services provided by any state corporation, government department, local authority, cooperative society, or their branches will be classified as essential services.
These include:
Electricity supply and all related services
Distribution of petroleum products and fuel, including gas
All healthcare services
Public transportation services
The extension reinforces an earlier gazette that had already declared these sectors as essential, ensuring their uninterrupted operation during the ongoing emergency situation.
