Due to concerns that international indicators such as the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) do not accurately reflect the true state of food security in Sri Lanka—and the associated data being insufficient or imprecise—the government has found it increasingly difficult to formulate appropriate policy decisions based on such metrics.
To address this gap, Sri Lanka is now taking steps to develop a national Food Security Index tailored to the country’s specific context. This new index will help identify key priorities and targets related to food security over the next five years and facilitate evidence-based policymaking.
As an initial step in this process, a workshop titled “Identifying a Food Security Index Suitable for Sri Lanka and Preparing a Strategic Plan” was held this morning (17) at the Colombo City Centre.
The event was organized by the Food Security Expert Committee in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Delivering the keynote address, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Mr. Kapila Gunaratne, emphasized the importance of creating a reliable, Sri Lanka-specific index. He stated that “the creation of an accurate index unique to Sri Lanka is an essential step for the economic stability and food security of the country.”
The workshop focused on understanding the four core components of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. Participants engaged in discussions aimed at developing strategic guidelines for the formulation of the national index.
Among the distinguished attendees were Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe, Senior Professor Jeevika Weerahewa, members of the Food Security Expert Committee, and representatives from government institutions, universities, the FAO, WFP, and the private sector.
