Sri Lanka Activates Essential Services Act to Combat Flood Crisis

COLOMBO (News 1st); In response to the ongoing disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has invoked powers under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, declaring a wide range of services as essential to the life of the community due to severe adverse weather conditions.

Services Declared Essential Are:

Electricity supply and restoration

Fuel distribution (petroleum products and gas)

Hospital and healthcare services

Public transport for passengers and goods

Maintenance of transportation and tourism infrastructure (roads, rail, air, highways, bridges, airports, ports)

Water supply and drainage

Food and essential commodity distribution

Administrative services (District & Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi officers, etc.)

Ambulance services

State banking and insurance services (including Central Bank)

Local authority services (water, electricity, drainage, sewerage, fire-fighting, garbage removal)

Irrigation services

Telecommunication and media services

Reclamation and development of low-lying lands

Agriculture and agricultural insurance services

The order emphasizes that these services must continue without interruption to safeguard public welfare during the crisis.