“FACING THE LOOMING FOOD SECURITY THREAT IN SRI LANKA”
June 17, 2022Institute of National Security Studies
Threat Lens
on
“FACING THE LOOMING FOOD SECURITY THREAT IN SRI LANKA”
Press Release
Food security is becoming an apex threat to Sri Lanka’s national security. At present, public is unable to attend to daily food necessities due to lack of products and insufficient income. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure the food security through executing timely measures. In doing that, government as well as the general public are duty bound and have a role to play. In this backdrop, the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), the premier think tank on national security established under the Ministry of Defence, organized a Threat Lens on “Facing the Looming Food Security Threat in Sri Lanka” on Thursday, 16th June 2022 from 1400hrs to 1530hrs via Zoom. The event was chaired by Major General K. A. D. A Karunasekara RWP RSP VSV USP ndu psc, Commandant, National Defence College, Sri Lanka who represented General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd.), WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc MPhil Secretary, Ministry of Defence. The Guest Speakers of the event were, Professor Nalika Ranathunga, Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna and Mrs. G. G. V. Shyamali, Director (Agri-Development), Ministry of Agriculture. The event was moderated by Rear Admiral Dimuthu Gunawardena RWP**, RSP, VSV, USP, ns&wc, psc, hdmc, Acting Director-General and Director, (Communications and Publications) of INSS. The audience comprised ministry officials, representatives from universities, think tanks, academics, tri forces, Sri Lanka Police and Civil Security Department.
The first speaker Prof Nalika Ranathunga highlighted the gravity of food insecurity in Sri Lanka and the ways and measures that can be utilized to prevent and mitigate food security. The second speaker Mrs. Shyamali explained the role of the government as well as the role of the community. Afterwards, the moderator initiated a meaningful Q and A session and many participants commented and raised questions creating a productive discourse on food security of the county. Ms. Dulakshi Ariyarathne, Intern (Research) delivered the Vote of Thanks subsequent to the concluding remarks by the event chair.