The Sri Lankan government is taking steps to create a mechanism to overcome the impacts unfavorable climatic changes on the national economy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe disclosed today (8th Dec.) in parliament.
Making a special statement in the Parliament the Prime Minister said that the government will discuss these matters with the representatives of aid agencies including International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB), and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Describing the nature of the water-related risks from the impact of climatic change, the Premier said that domestic agriculture had to face many unfavorable situations resulting in production losses.
Due to bad weather condition, domestic agricultural production deceased, particularly coconut, vegetables, and rice. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the vegetable production in the highland was decreased by 36 percent while production in the lower country dropped by 30 percent, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.
To prevent shortages of essential food items, the government has taken steps to import those items and also taken measures to support the people who are affected form this situation, he added.
The Premier said the government has taken measures, especially to provide relief to the potato farmers in Welimada, Nuwara Eliya and other areas and secure their income while importing potatoes to meet the demand. If necessary the government will take steps to follow the same procedure for other commodities.
In addition, a mechanism will be prepared within two weeks to identify the farmer families, who were rendered helpless by being unable to cultivate their crops due to the inclement climatic conditions prevailed in the country, and provide more relief to them, the Premier said.
He added that a committee comprising the secretaries and senior officials of the ministries of Finance, Disaster management, Home Affairs, and Agriculture has been appointed in this regard.
