Even the whole country asked to stay home imposing corona virus curfew, the government is yet to make proper arrangements to provide essential dry rations, and vegetables a reasonable price without prompting them for panic buying during off curfew times while waiting in long ques near supermarkets,Sathosa outlets and grocery stores, consumers complained.
The Department of Co-operative Development implemented the door-to-door dry rations sale program "Wait for Us, Stay at Home" in the Western Province
Under this program, bags containing dry rations worth Rs 500 and Rs 1000 were provided to the public for purchase
But it was only confined to people living in Colombo and suburban areas (Colombo1 to11) and others living in remote areas of the province had to starve without any food to eat as they have not resorted panic buying heeding to the repeated requests by government authorities over the television.
Although the Government Information Department announced about a system to deliver a bag of goods as requested by a telephone call, consumers in many areas in the western province have not been able to obtain this serice up to now , they complained.
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No action has been to further strengthen the program through Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharis although this pledge had been given couple of days ago.
Divisional Secretaries and Grama Niladharis in remote areas cannot be seen at their offices they added.
Further the intervention of middle men had resulted in the jacking up of prices of vegetables up to Rs.400 to 500 per kilogram.
However the Government says there are ample essential goods to last till April 2020, and there will be no food shortage in Sri Lanka in the near future.
Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the Government had taken measures to store extra essential goods in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrated in April.
He further said that Sri Lanka, which was dependent on imports for most essential goods, will not be affected despite a lockdown in various countries world over due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus.
The Government is taking necessary steps to improve the Agriculture sector and revive lands that were previously used for the cultivation of vegetables, in order to make Sri Lanka self- sufficient in the future, he said.
The Minister however pointed out that Sri Lanka will not be able to cultivate certain products, such as lentils, chickpeas and salmon, due to some logistical and climate issues.
(LI)