President directs speedy measures to maintain prices of essential items

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed officials to take speedy measures to maintain the prices of essential items at rates the people could bear and afford, President’s media sources said.

President Rajapaksa made this directive when he addressed the Food Security and ‘Cost Of Living’ Controlling Sub-committee at Temple Trees on Thursday.

He pointed out the necessity of providing the required infrastructure facilities such as roads and power.

The President also directed officials to explore the possibilities of utilising solar energy as an alternative source of power.

Discussions were also held on the precautions and measures that could be taken to face a food and fuel crisis in the future.

The possibility of introducing an intermediate Kanna (cultivation season) between the Yala and Maha and the most appropriate crops to be grown during that season was also discussed.

Attention was also drawn on ‘soil-protection, crop-diversification and organic farming and the measures already taken, such as special training programmes with 1,500 trained field officers for the purpose.

It was mentioned that around 5,000 hectares of land are to be cultivated under this scheme within the next few months.

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka, Ministers D.M. Jayarathna, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Karu Jayasuriya, Janaka Bandara Tennekoon and other officials participated.