President Ranil Wickremesinghe RanilWickremesinghe by extraordinary gazette number No. 2328/02 dated 17 April 2023 has names the following services essential public services
1. All services connected to the supply of electricity
2. The supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel
3. Postal Service
4. All service, work or labour, of any description whatsoever, necessary or required to be done in connection with themaintenance, and the reception, care feeding, and treatment, of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries,and other similar institutions.
and has recognised these services as essential to the life of the community. The gazette has been issued by Secretary to the PresidentE. M. S. B. Ekanayake, under the order of the President.
The gazette has been issued under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979 which empowers the President the name certain services as Essential Public services, bringing them within the legal framework of the said Act.