A shortage of vegetables is expected nationwide after widespread flooding and landslides destroyed plantations and submerged key agricultural regions, officials and industry sources warned this week.
The strain on supply has been intensified by two days of panic buying in Colombo and major regional cities, where residents rushed to stock up on food amid fears of prolonged flooding and potential shortages. Many supermarkets and shops saw shelves emptied as customers purchased large quantities of goods in response to the worsening conditions.
Despite the surge in demand, stocks of essential food items remain available in and around Colombo, The Sunday Morning learned.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security R.M. Jayawardana said the government intends to provide dry rations to affected communities, though severe logistical barriers are complicating distribution. Flooded roads, damaged infrastructure and access restrictions have slowed efforts to deliver assistance to hard-hit districts.
Jayawardana said he does not expect prices of essential items to rise, noting that existing stocks stored safely in Colombo and surrounding areas remain secure. “The rescue teams, consisting of the armed forces and Police, are finding it hard to reach some areas affected by flooding and landslides,” he said.
The deputy minister acknowledged the scale of the crisis, which follows days of intense rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding, displaced thousands into temporary shelters and devastated the country’s agricultural heartlands. “We believe that, given this situation, there will still be instances where we cannot meet the needs of everyone affected,” he said, adding that efforts continue around the clock with support from the Disaster Management Centre.
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