PM warns of a possible food crisis in Sri Lanka from August

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned of a possible food crisis in Sri Lanka from August.

He told Sky News that Sri Lanka’s main concern is that the country has not had fertiliser for cultivation, and this coming season, the rice cultivation season will not have the full production.

“Therefore from about August onwards, there is a possibility of a food crisis in Sri Lanka. That’s about the time when the global food crisis will also take place, and we will see how we will survive until about March next year.”

He also said that “the last administration is to blame” for the country’s current crisis.

“We have come to a point where we are bankrupt – which has never happened to Sri Lanka before,” he said.

“We have no dollars, we have no rupees.”

On whether the president should resign, the veteran politician said it’s a “controversy” as the country is of split opinion.

He added: “I suggested that after Sri Lanka passes the 21st amendment, the country should restore the original 19th amendment strengthening parliament – strengthening the powers of the prime minister.

“Then, all party leaders and the president should have a discussion and come to some arrangement on the future.”

He said that people, at the moment, “can’t bear the burden any longer”.

“We are certainly not in a very stable position,” he said. (Sky News/Colombo Gazette)