'Country should focus on food preservation'

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The effective management of the logistic industry is important as it will ensure proper functioning of the system.

The recent floods have damaged tanks and authorities need to take precautionary measures to prevent a disastrous situation arising in the country. The action plan comprising short and long term solutions should be implemented to overcome the current situation, National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka Secretary Sujeeva Samaraweera told Daily News Business.

Sri Lanka needs to have in place post harvest technology to reduce waste and losses. It is necessary to implement this technology as an immediate remedial action for loss in food production due to floods. The country should focus on food preservation as a long term solution to ensure continuous supply of food items, he said.

"The recent extreme weather is an unusual condition and needs to be taken in isolation. The change in global weather conditions have adversely impacted Sri Lanka and in future we could expect this condition more often. We need to be prepared, he said.

The country needs to increase the storage capacity and increasing productivity while ensuring food security. It needs to re-look at water management systems for effective resource allocation.

Measures need to be taken to repair infrastructure facilities, especially the road network damaged by the recent floods. This is a huge challenge to the Government and speedy action is necessary to put the road network on the right track, Samaraweera said.