Members of the Food Policy and Security Committee have discussed the measures that should be taken and the preparedness required to mitigate any potential impacts on Sri Lanka arising from the impending global El Niño phenomenon.

Discussions were held at a meeting of the Food Policy and Security Committee at the Presidential Secretariat. The meeting took place under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Lal Kantha and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe. 

During the meeting, particular attention was given to the possible effects of El Niño on the agricultural sector, according to a statement by the President’s Media Division. 

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 PMD noted.

Ministers stated that, just as the country had successfully managed challenges arising from Cyclone Ditwah and the conflict 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. 

Among those present were Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, S.  Aloka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Acting Director General of the Department of Meteorology, A. L. K. Wijemannage, Director General of the Department of Agriculture W. A. R. T. Wickramarachchi and other members of the Food Policy and Security Committee.