President Maithripala Sirisena issuing an Extraordinary Gazette notification has proclaimed Sri Lanka's railway service as an essential service from yesterday, 03 October. The President has issued the Extraordinary Gazette notification No. 2143/51 in accordance with the Essential Public Service Act No 61 of 1979.The President, considering that that the services provided by Department of Railways is "essential to the life of the community and is likely to be impeded or interrupted," declared the specified services to be an Essential Public Service.