On April 17th, 2023, President Ranil Wickremesinghe exercised his powers under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No.61 of 1979, by issuing an Extraordinary Gazette Notification.

The notification declares four sectors as essential public services, namely: services related to the supply of electricity, supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, postal service, and all types of work or labor required for the maintenance, care, feeding, and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and similar institutions. This Gazette Notification is now in effect.