The Cabinet, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has approved the establishment of a Food Policy and Security Committee under the Presidential Secretariat to address national food and nutrition security challenges.
The committee aims to ensure that every citizen has access to minimum food requirements of adequate quality and quantity at affordable prices, as outlined in the government’s policy statement.
Key objectives of the committee include:
- Promoting domestic production of food items that can be locally sourced.
- Maintaining a reserve stock of essential food sufficient for at least three months.
- Establishing a comprehensive data system to track existing food stocks.
- Enhancing food security through improved production, storage, distribution, and marketing systems, with active private sector involvement.
The committee will operate under the co-chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation, and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development.
Its membership will include the Secretary to the Prime Minister and secretaries from relevant ministries. Utilizing scientific analysis and data-driven approaches, the committee will provide policy guidance with active contributions from associated institutions.
This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable food security and ensuring the nutritional well-being of all citizens.
