PM stresses need to address food loss and food insecurity

Thursday, 19 June 2025 01:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday stressed the need to address food loss and food insecurity on an urgent basis.

She made this observation when she participated in the High-Level Policy Dialogue titled “Beyond Waste: Optimising Food, Water, and Energy for Better Nutrition in South Asia” which kicked off yesterday at the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel, Colombo.

The policy dialogue was co-hosted by the World Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka through the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Livelihood, with support from the Gates Foundation and other development partners.

The two-day dialogue aims to catalyse action on reducing food waste, enhancing nutrition, and promoting sustainable resource use across the region.

Delivering the keynote speech, Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya, emphasised the urgent need to address food loss and food insecurity. She further highlighted three essential lessons: integration, innovation, and inclusion as vital for national food security, alongside the support of technological solutions, agricultural trade, and the active contribution of women and youth in food systems transformation.

The event was attended by prominent officials across the South Asia Region including Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabandi, World Bank Division Director for Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, David Sislen, the Gates Foundation Director Archna Vyas, and BIMSTEC Secretary General Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey alongside representatives from civil society and the private sector.

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