(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that a scientific and planned cultivation program should be launched immediately to face the anticipated food shortages.
The Prime Minister said this at a discussion held at the Prime Minister’s Office today on food security in Sri Lanka, which is facing a global food shortage.
The discussions were held on food crops, livestock and export crops. In addition, the issues of fertilizers, seeds and fuel were discussed at length and the Prime Minister instructed the relevant officials on the short and long term measures to be taken.
The discussions revealed that while the monthly requirement for rice is 200,000 metric tons, the current stock of rice in the country is sufficient only until mid-September.
The Prime Minister emphasized that a scientific and planned cultivation program is needed soon to address the food shortage as the next season’s harvest could be in February next year.
A committee headed by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was appointed to look into the launching the program (වගා සංග්රාමය). Parliamentarain Madura Withanage. Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake. Opposition MP Mano Ganesan and former Minister Vajira Abeywardena have been included in the committee.
The former Secretary to the Treasury Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga was appointed to compile data on the amount of food currently available in the country and to make recommendations.
