News

Cabinet approves food security committee

Published

6 months ago

December 11, 2024

editor

Ensuring national food and nutrition security and providing safe access to food are among the government’s top priorities. In line with this, the Cabinet has approved a proposal by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to establish a Food Policy and Security Committee under the Presidential Secretariat.

The committee aims to provide every citizen with their minimum food requirements in sufficient quantity and quality at an affordable price.
According to the new government policy statement, the Food Policy and Security Committee will focus on the following key objectives:

• Promoting domestic production of all food items that can be produced locally.
• Maintaining a reserve stock of essential food sufficient for at least three months.
• Establishing and maintaining a comprehensive data system on existing food stocks in the country.
• Developing and implementing effective programs to enhance food security by ensuring efficient production, storage, distribution, wholesale, and retail marketing processes, with active participation from the private sector.

These priorities define the committee’s primary tasks to ensure food security and sustainability in the country.

Accordingly, to ensure food security and nutrition, a committee will be established under the co-chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation, and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development.

This committee will comprise the Secretary to the Prime Minister and relevant ministry secretaries. Its primary function will be to provide policy guidance based on scientific analysis, leveraging data and information with the active participation of all related institutions.

(President’s Media Division)

News

COVID subvariants spreading in Asia detected in Sri Lanka

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the COVID-19 variant currently spreading in the Asian region has also been identified in the country.

Dr. Jude Jayamaha, a specialist in viral diseases at the Medical Research Institute, stated that patients infected with the Omicron subvariants LF.7 and XFG are being reported locally.

Dr. Jayamaha explained that this finding was confirmed through research conducted on biological samples collected from several hospitals across the island.

However, he emphasized that there is no need for undue fear regarding these COVID-19 variants.

Health authorities have also stressed the importance of vulnerable groups—such as pregnant mothers, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses—following health guidelines, including wearing face masks and avoiding crowded places.

Dr. Jayamaha reiterated that new COVID-19 variants emerge periodically, and health authorities are continuously monitoring the situation, so the public should remain calm.

(newswire.lk)

(This story, originally published by newswire.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Anudi misses out from Miss World Quarter-Finals

Published

9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

editor

The Miss World organization has announced its quarter-finalists, selecting 40 contestants from across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Sri Lanka’s Anudi Gunasekara, was not selected in the top 40, despite being recognized for her impressive performances in the Multimedia and Head-to-Head challenges.

The top 40 consisted of 10 contestants each from Asia & Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas.