President His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the authorities at a recent discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat to release essential items containers without delay. The President also appointed a special committee headed by Finance Minister Hon. Basil Rajapaksa to ensure the supply of essential food items without any shortage. Priorities should be given for the importation of selected essential commodities, he said, adding that excessive importations or concealing stocks should not be allowed.
Minister of Trade Hon. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Ports and Shipping Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena, State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Secretary to the President Mr Gamini Senarath, Governor of the Central Bank Mr Ajith Nivard Cabraal; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mr SR Attygalle, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping Mr UDC Jayalal, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade Mrs Bhadrani Jayawardana, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr Prasantha Jayamanna and a number of officials including officials of the Sri Lanka Customs were present at the meeting.
