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Presidential Gazette ends strikes

January 31, 2026
Editor

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued a special gazette notification declaring several services such as electricity supply, fuel distribution and hospital services as essential services.

Accordingly, the following services have been declared as essential services.

  1. All services connected with the supply of electricity
  2. Supply or distribution of fuel including petroleum products and gas
  3. All services, works or labour in any activity necessary or desirable for the maintenance and reception, care, feeding and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries,

and other similar institutions

  1. Public transport services for the transport of passengers or goods
  2. Provision and maintenance of transport services by road, rail or air and tourist service facilities, including

highways, bridges, culverts, airports, ports and railways

  1. All services connected with the supply of water and drainage
  2. All services connected with the supply, protection and distribution of food and essential commodities
  3. All types of services, works or labour contributions to be performed or required to be performed by the district

Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats, Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Development Officers, Agricultural Research Officers, All District and Divisional Secretariats, including field level officers, Clean Sri Lanka Centralized Team Assistants, Community Empowerment Officers.

  1. Ambulance Services
  2. All State Banks and Insurance Services including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
  3. Any service provided by any Local Government Institution for the provision of water, electricity, drainage and sewerage systems,

Fire fighting and ambulance services, refuse removal (including transportation and disposal of excreta) and all services provided by Local Government Institutions

  1. All services related to irrigation
  2. All services related to telephone, telecommunications and media
  3. All services related to reclamation and development of low-lying land
  4. All services related to agriculture and agricultural insurance services.