Govt steps up preparations to address El Nino impacts

The Special Ministerial Sub-Committee and Officials’ Committee appointed to take necessary measures to address the impacts of the El Nino climate phenomenon met for the third time at the Presidential Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Environment Dr Dammika Patabendi.

The meeting held extensive discussions on the action plans submitted by the plantation, agriculture, wildlife and water resources management sectors, which are among those likely to be directly affected at the community level.

Special attention was given to arrangements for distributing drinking water to people in districts including Batticaloa, Monaragala and Ampara, which are currently experiencing the effects of dry weather. It was decided that the programme would be implemented through District Secretaries and that the relevant officials would be duly informed of the arrangements.

The meeting also discussed measures to be taken should the dry conditions persist and groundwater levels decline further.

Attention was also given to forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology regarding the El Nino phenomenon, as well as programmes to be implemented to safeguard sectors that may be affected by its impacts.

The importance of keeping the public informed through the media about the latest developments relating to El Nino was also emphasised.

Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr Susil Ranasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Secretary/Convenor of the Special Ministerial Sub-Committee and Chairman of the Officials’ Committee/Chief of Presidential Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment K. R. Uduwala, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development K. A. Wimalenthirarajah, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Director General of the Department of Meteorology A. L. K. Wijemannage and officials from the relevant departments were among those present.