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Sri Lanka: A Look At The Damage Control Policies Implemented By New Government To Avert Economic Crisis
Writer: Mrinalini Kaushik
She is a student of journalism, keen on learning new ways to unlearn, deconstructing news and life. Interested in exploring new media as medium is the message. Avid follower of sports and politics
Others/World, 20 Jun 2022 5:51 AM GMT
Editor : Shiva Chaudhary |
A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication with relevant skills, specialising in content editing & writing. I believe in the precise dissemination of information based on facts to the public.
Creatives : Shiva Chaudhary
A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication with relevant skills, specialising in content editing & writing. I believe in the precise dissemination of information based on facts to the public.
From the Army tilling 1,500 acres of land for food production to government offices being shut and schools shifting online to curb fuel consumption, here are a few mitigation policies the new government has adopted.
Amid a severe economic crisis with a shortage of food, fuel, medicines, etc., the newly appointed Sri Lankan government has taken various measures to address the imminent problems. The national Army will be engaged in farming around 1,500 acres of land to increase domestic food production.
The government has also ordered both private and public schools to be shifted online and government offices to close down to conserve fuel on transport.
Schools And Offices Shut
Sri Lanka government has requested all schools within Colombo city to close and shift to online classes for the next week as severe power cuts of 13 hours have been occurring.
The public offices were also to be shut down from Monday, for the Sri Lankan government has announced a shut-down of all public sector offices except for healthcare and hospitals from next week, beginning Monday, to reduce transportation amidst severe fuel shortage.
The Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry stated on Friday, June 17, "Taking into consideration the severe limits on fuel supply, the weak public transport system and the difficulty in using private vehicles; this circular allows minimal staff to report to work from Monday," as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Authorities have further given public officials one leave per week for three months to work in agriculture amid the food crisis.
Green Agriculture Steering Committee
The Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, stated on Friday, June 17, that food scarcity could affect approximately four to five million people.
United Nations World Food Programme, on June 16, warned that there is a 'potential humanitarian crisis' as four out of five people have begun skipping meals due to unaffordability. Green Agriculture Steering Committee was formed on June 16 by the Sri Lankan Army to provide food security, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Major General Jagath Kodithuwakku's Chief of Staff will oversee the project. The Army is expected to weed, till and prepare cultivation beds of a few selected seeds by collaborating with agricultural experts to increase food production in minimum time. This move has led to all Security Forces and troops mobilising for the food production project at the regional level.
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