Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency over food shortages on August 31, 2021 after private banks in the country ran out of foreign exchange to finance imports.
Sri Lanka declares Food Emergency
Sri Lanka is suffering from a hard-hitting economic crisis. Following the crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered emergency regulations to counter the hoarding of sugar, rice and other such essential foods. President also named a top army officer as “Commissioner General of Essential Services to coordinate the supply of paddy, rice, sugar and other consumer goods”.
This move followed sharp price rises for sugar, rice, onions and potatoes. Price rise was supplemented by long queues outside stores because of shortages of milk powder, cooking gas and kerosene oil. Government also increased penalties for food hoarding. But shortages of food come as Sri Lanka battles a fierce coronavirus wave, claiming more than 200 lives a day.
