Colombo City will run out of food by September: Rosy

Warning that Colombo City will run out of food by September this year, the Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake today said the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) will start cultivating essential food crops in 600 acres of land within the city shortly.

Ms. Senanayake told a media briefing that CMC is planning to start up an agriculture project to grow crops, while city dwellers will be encouraged to grow essential food crops in their home gardens.

“Around 60 per cent of Colombo City population who are low-income earners will be affected by the food shortage. I do not intend to frighten anyone but only want to inform and prepare people for the impending crisis,” she said.

She said arrangements have been made to open soup kitchens within the city and to provide cash vouchers worth Rs 3,000 for the low-income earners.

“We are currently carrying out a dialogue with World Food Programme, Global Food and Agriculture Organisation and other donor agencies to ensure food security of city dwellers,” she also said.

Also, she said the CMC will also focus on food wastage that is taking place in the city. Around 350 MT of food is wasted in the Colombo city daily. We want to reduce this so that it will help ensure food security in the city,” the Mayor said.

In addition, the Mayor said many of those who earn a daily income including three-wheeler drivers in the city have lost their livelihood due to the economic crisis.