As a result of hardships, people took over to the streets and demanded their rights by way of Aragalaya, they were asking to reduce prices, penalize the corrupt, and give a corrupt-free country. The situation escalated and people-appointed leaders stepped down. Irrespective of the new leadership, the government still is struggling to provide for the needs of the people. At present, “in the face of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, food insecurity remains at concerning levels. 36 percent of households are food-insecure, according to World Food Program’s (WFP’s) latest Household Food Security Survey (October 2022). Furthermore, in urban areas of Colombo, food inflation (year-on-year) was at 73.7 percent in November, according to the latest Colombo Consumer Price Index (October 2022). While food availability has widely improved from the previous month, coinciding with the Yala harvest, markets continue to report concerns around price volatility, according to WFP’s October Market Functionality Index. High and unstable prices are further impacting food accessibility for households”.
Ministry of Agriculture has implemented the concept of “Ekwa Wawamu, Rata Dinamu”. Where the community must take necessary actions to grow essential crops in the backyard and condominium property owners on their balconies. Moreover, Sri Lanka President’s office established a Food Security Program Unit to address increasing poverty and hunger information. Accordingly, Samurdhi recipient families with more than 05 members, families with disabled and people with chronic illnesses, poverty-stricken families with children below 05 years, families without a husband or wife, families with pregnant and lactating mothers, and poverty-stricken families who have not even received primary education who are facing severe food insecurity have been identified as criteria for assisting with the World Food Program. In addition, programs are conducted around the country to educate the public, such are, the National Program for Food Security and Nutrition which was held on the 20th at Mampe Sanasa Hall and Honnantara North, Sri Vijayanandanarama Temple under the leadership of Dr. Suren Batagoda, Presidential Adviser on the National Program for Food Security and Nutrition, under the concept, “All families in a village should be strong at the family level”, rural economic revitalization committees have been established covering every village to look into the problems faced by each family and provide solutions. When looking at international assistance, since the start of emergency operations in mid-August 2022, WFP has reached 576,944 people with cash assistance (479,908) and in-kind assistance (97,036). This is a result of WFP’s response scale-up aimed at reaching 1.4 million people through unconditional food assistance (cash or in-kind). Further, WFP distributed rice to 3,517 schools in November and has reached 479,087 children to date. WFP has further planned to support 1 million children with school meals through the Government’s national school meals program. WFP is coordinating with the Government and donors to provide raw materials (maize and soybean) to the Government’s Thriposha facility which is targeting approximately 1 million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and young children with nutritious food support. Irrespective of all these measures, people are still struggling to survive. It is praiseworthy that the government as well as international actors are aiding the public. Yet, the government of Sri Lanka as the custodian of the public has more duties to do in addition to the good things they are doing at the moment. Firstly, it is important to understand hunger as a threat. Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition mentions that every man, woman, and child has the inalienable right to be free from hunger and malnutrition and to develop fully and maintain their physical and mental faculties. Therefore, the government should increase resource allocation to improve food security, concessions should be provided to low-income families. Women, children, and lactating mothers should be given extra prominence, vocational training should be taught to strengthen the capacity of individuals, this will uplift their social standards since they will be employed. (Charani Patabendige)