Sri Lanka’s government has moved to extend the state of emergency, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and potential disruptions to essential services in the coming weeks.
Speaking in parliament earlier today, Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara said the government had decided to prolong emergency regulations due to the possible impact of the war on shipping, air travel and the delivery of essential goods.
The state of emergency was first declared on 28 November 2025, in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
Addressing parliament, Jayasekara warned that the weeks ahead could prove critical for Sri Lanka as global supply chains face disruptions linked to the conflict.
“Because of the existing war situation, restrictions have been imposed on shipping, on air travel activities, and several other restrictions have been enforced. Therefore, the essential services we expected and requested may sometimes face delays in the future. The coming few weeks are decisive. Therefore, we must pay special attention to these essential services. Accordingly, we have taken steps to continue our state of emergency further.”
According to the deputy minister, the government believes emergency regulations are necessary to ensure that essential services can continue without interruption if delays arise due to the conflict.
