Food Policy and Security Committee discusses preparedness for potential El Niño impacts

Members of the Food Policy and Security Committee have reviewed preparedness measures to mitigate possible impacts on Sri Lanka from the anticipated global El Niño phenomenon.

The discussion took place at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat, co-chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K. D. Lal Kantha and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe.

Particular focus was placed on the potential impact of El Niño on the agricultural sector, including the need to ensure adequate water storage in reservoirs ahead of the upcoming Yala cultivation season, as well as safeguarding drinking water supplies.

Minister Samarasinghe directed officials to seek inputs and recommendations from relevant institutions to strengthen preparedness efforts.

It was also agreed to hold a special follow-up meeting in the near future to further assess the situation. Key agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, the Mahaweli Authority, and the Irrigation Department, have been instructed to submit comprehensive plans outlining mitigation strategies.

The Ministers said that preparatory plans are already in place to manage the anticipated challenges, adding that the Government is giving the issue special attention.

Samarasinghe further noted that natural disasters cannot be predicted with certainty and stressed the importance of developing advance contingency plans to respond effectively to any possible scenario.