The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to speak in the Committee Stage debate on Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development. Food security and consumer protection are vital. Despite international standards and agreements on food products, Sri Lanka still lacks proper systems for domestic standards, for enabling exports of food products, and for overcoming internal bottlenecks. As a result, the country is not obtaining due returns or foreign exchange for the effort invested.

¶ 02 Crucially, policy thinking remains focused on importing food rather than ensuring safe, nutritious food from production to consumption for all — from children to the elderly — and safeguarding their health and future. Unlike many countries that enforce strict food-related protocols, Sri Lanka’s implementation is inadequate.

¶ 03 Many paddy storage warehouses are now closed. Rice distribution is controlled by mafias, leading to…