State of Emergency Extended by One Month; 15 Essential Services Gazetted

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The State of Emergency in Sri Lanka has been extended for another month.

The relevant Gazette notification was issued by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The State of Emergency was initially declared on 29th of November to manage the disaster situation caused by Cyclone Ditwah inorder to ensure public security and maintain order.

Simultaneously, the Extraordinary Gazette notification designating 15 categories of services as "Essential Services" has also been extended. 

These services are mandated to function without interruption to assist in the country's recovery and daily operations.

The designated Essential Services include, Electricity and Fuel, Health Services and Ambulances, Water, Food, Irrigation, Public Transport and Roads, District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats, and Field Officers, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, State Banks and Insurance Services, Telecommunications, Telephone, and Media, Low-land Reclamation, Agriculture and Agricultural Insurance.