Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday issued an extraordinary gazette declaring a wide range of services as essential public services, in view of the severe adverse weather conditions currently affecting the country.

Among the services declared essential are electricity supply, fuel distribution including petroleum and gas, water supply and drainage, public transport, healthcare services, ambulance services, telecommunications, media services, irrigation, and banking and insurance services.

The Ministry of Health and Mass Media has declared a one-week emergency in the health sector, effective from November 28 until December 4, to ensure the continuous provision of medical services amid the prevailing disaster caused by cyclone Ditwah.

On Friday, India launched “Operation Sagar Bandhu” to assist Sri Lanka and the first tranche of relief materials were handed in Colombo after the consignments were transported by Indian Navy ships.