• We should cultivate in abandoned lands, even in Colombo
• It is essential for Sri Lanka to make 2023 a year of agriculture

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Sri Lanka is one of the few nations which is expected to go without food in the global food shortage which is expected within this year, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

“FAO has named a few nations including Sri Lanka and Afghanistan which are expected to go without food,” the Prime Minister said.

“Sri Lanka will have to prepare for the food shortage and cultivate food crops in abandoned land, even in Colombo City. There are many lands belonging to the Railways Department which are neglected and can be used to grow food. I will talk to the World Bank to get some assistance,” the Prime Minister said.

“We also can have greenhouses,” he said, responding to MP Harsha de Silva who made an inquiry with regard to the growing of food crops.

“It is essential for Sri Lanka to make 2023 a year of agriculture,” he also said.