Govt steps up food security measures amid El Nino risk

The Government has stepped up preparations to safeguard supplies and prices of essential food commodities amid possible disruptions to global supply chains caused by El Niño conditions.

The Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development held a special discussion on Tuesday (25) to assess the potential impact of El Niño on the country’s food supply.

Officials noted that while the direct impact of El Niño on Sri Lanka was expected to be limited, disruptions in other countries could indirectly affect the availability and prices of essential imported food commodities.

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe stressed the need to maintain adequate buffer stocks of essential imported food items as a precaution against possible disruptions to global supplies.

The meeting also reviewed stocks held by importers and relevant data from Sri Lanka Customs.

Importers were urged to act responsibly and treat food security as a matter of national importance, while refraining from statements that could cause unnecessary public concern, the Ministry said.

Ministry Secretary K.A. Wimalenthiraraja, Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Hemantha Samarakoon, Cooperative Wholesale Establishment Chairman Kosala Wilbawa, Lanka Sathosa Chairman Ravindra Fernando and representatives of essential food importers also attended the discussion.