The National Council’s sub-committee on identifying short- and medium-term programmes related to economic stabilization disclosed that 75% of the country’s income is spent on food. However, only 1/5th of the country’s population gets a proper diet with nutritional value.

This was discussed when the sub-committee met in Parliament yesterday (18) under the chairmanship of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The meeting was called to seek expert views on food security and nutrition security, need for fertilizer, decline in the harvest, malnutrition and its possible social consequences.

The short-term and mid-term measures that can be taken to overcome this situation were discussed during the meeting, especially since the malnutrition situation in the country for about ten years has escalated with the current economic crisis, the Communication Department of Parliament said.

Accordingly, the sub-committee Chairman informed the Finance Ministry to conduct a survey on income and household expenditure immediately.

The Chairman said that this survey has not been conducted after 2019 and that it will provide accurate information about the social consequences of this economic crisis and that information will be vital in taking future action.

It was also discussed that even if the income could be increased through measures such as tax increases in the country, the problem of sustaining industries, job losses and declining nutrition conditions will have a severe impact as side effects.