Sri Lanka’s Food Policy and Security Committee has turned its focus to preparing for the potential impacts of the global El Niño phenomenon, with ministers stressing the need for contingency planning to safeguard agriculture and water supplies.
The committee met yesterday (08) at the Presidential Secretariat under the co‑chairmanship of Agriculture Minister K.D. Lal Kantha and Trade and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe.
Particular attention was given to the possible effects of El Niño on the agricultural sector. Discussions also focused on the need to ensure adequate water storage in reservoirs for the forthcoming Yala season and to safeguard drinking water supplies. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe instructed officials to obtain the views and recommendations of the relevant institutions on these matters.
It was further decided to convene a special meeting of the Food Policy and Security Committee in the near future to continue discussions on the issue.
Relevant line agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, the Mahaweli Authority and the Department of Irrigation, were instructed to prepare and submit comprehensive plans outlining measures to address the potential impacts of the El Niño phenomenon.
The Ministers noted that, just as the country had successfully managed challenges arising from Cyclone Ditwah and the conflict situation in the Middle East, plans were already in place to effectively manage this potential global challenge. They emphasised that the Government was giving special attention to the matter.
Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe further pointed out that natural disasters cannot be predicted with certainty and stressed the importance of developing contingency plans in advance to respond effectively to any eventuality. (Newswire)
