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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000878 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR GARY CLEMENTS AND MIKE LURIE 
OFFICE OF THE COUNSELOR FOR MARISA PLOWDEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CE EAGR EAID ETRD PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA REMAINS FOCUSED ON FOOD SECURITY; WILL 
ATTEND UNGA MEETING 
 
REF: A. STATE 58996 
     ¶B. STATE 93894 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: EconOff delivered REF points to Ms. Janaki 
Kuruppu, the President's top food security advisor.  Kuruppu 
outlined a number of actions items the GoSL has taken since 
the food crisis of 2008 and expressed interest in 
participating in the Secretary's upcoming food security 
meeting in New York.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) EconOff met with Kuruppu, Director of the Presidential 
Secretariat and head of the President's Cabinet Sub-Committee 
on Food Security on September 10.  Econoff shared with 
Kuruppu the Secretary's five principles for global action on 
food security (REF A) as well as REF B's letter of invitation 
to the September 26 meeting at the UN General Assembly and 
the draft statement.  Kuruppu noted that the GSL has focused 
on food security since the 2008 global food crisis.  Food 
prices indeed increased significantly at that time, and key 
trading partners (India, Vietnam) halted exports to Sri 
Lanka, further exacerbating the problem.  Janaki also noted 
that, while outright hunger is fairly rare in Sri Lanka, 
under- and mal-nutrition remains commonplace and cause for 
concern. 
 
¶3. (U) In June 2008, the President created and convened the 
Cabinet Sub-Committee on Food Security -- an 
inter-ministerial committee involving eight ministries 
(agriculture, livestock, trade, utilities, transportation, 
environment, consumer affairs, and labor) -- to tackle the 
problems faced by both farmers and consumers.  The committee 
met weekly until hostilities in the north and east of the 
country usurped all other priorities in February 2009.  Last 
month, the committee resumed meeting and agreed to meet on a 
monthly basis.  "The food crisis came and went, and prices 
are lower than before," noted Janaki.  "It's difficult to 
maintain momentum, but the President and others recognize 
that the problem could return, and Sri Lanka is not safe." 
 
¶4. (U) Sri Lanka imports many essential commodities such as 
sugar, milk powder, onions, wheat, and lentils.  The 
Sub-Committee has focused on increasing production of these 
and other items to avoid scarcity and improve security in the 
future.  To achieve this goal, the GSL is urging farmers to 
move away from the "two-season" harvesting method toward 
year-round cultivation since favorable conditions for farming 
exist in Sri Lanka during most of the year.  This could help 
alleviate, for example, steep price fluctuations for certain 
items during different periods of the year.  According to 
Janaki, the Sub-Committee has already recommended five 
projects to improve the food security situation in Sri Lanka, 
and more are being considered. 
 
¶5. (U) For example, the supply chain is corrupted, with 
middle-men earning more than farmers and consumers 
(especially the urban poor) paying higher prices.  The GSL 
has proposed opening five agricultural retail centers (two 
have already opened in Colombo, in December 2008 and April 
2009 respectively) which bring the rural farmer and urban 
consumer closer together.  Prices are lower at the centers 
(while being cautious not to undercut traditional retailers) 
and farmers receive more for their produce.  Furthermore, 
post-harvest waste is huge problem in Sri Lanka, where up to 
40% of all produce is lost (mainly in transit) before it 
reaches the consumer.  While recognizing that the road system 
in the country needs help, a quick-fix solution proposed 
encourages farmers to use plastic crates rather than the 
traditional gunny bags (burlap sacks) to transport their 
goods.  It is estimated that using plastic crates could lower 
waste by up to 70%.  The GSL is working with local crate 
suppliers to ensure lower prices for farmers during this 
transition. 
 
¶6. (U) The GSL Department of Agriculture has designated 
certain crops as "crop leaders" and oversees the development 
of these essential items -- including rice, maize, finger 
millet, onions, chili, green gram, cowpea, soy beans, black 
gram, ground nuts, grapes, pomegranates, oranges, bananas, 
 
COLOMBO 00000878  002 OF 002 
 
 
papaw, pineapple, beans, tomatoes, yams, potatoes, and export 
crops like ginger and turmeric.  Furthermore, since only 20% 
of the milk consumed in Sri Lanka is currently produced 
in-country, the GoSL is developing a new policy to 
dramatically increase dairy production on the island.  (Note: 
USAID has programs to assist the local dairy industry.  End 
Note.)  Janaki did not expand on the efforts but did note her 
hope that consumers would again begin to drink fresh milk 
vice imported milk powder as a result.  She did highlight the 
need for proper information dissemination for farmers on all 
aspects of agriculture including production, prices, stocks, 
pest/disease, and other issues.  As a result, the 
Sub-Committee proposes an agriculture information system with 
as many as 550 centers across all regions of the country to 
collect information and assist farmers.  This proposal is 
still in its early stages but is "a vital part of our food 
security program." 
 
¶7. (U) In conclusion, Janaki noted her interest in 
representing the GSL at the food security meeting in New 
York.  She will be in the United States on a Voluntary 
Visitor program for the coming two weeks and will extend her 
stay by a day to allow her participation.  Janaki also noted 
that she would share the points from REFS A and B with 
interested ministries and would report back prior to the UNGA 
meeting.  EconOff will report any follow-up septel.  Please 
contact Ken Kero-Mentz with any additional requests on this 
matter. 
 
¶8. (U) COMMENT: President Rajapaksa has emphasized 
agricultural self-sufficiency as a major goal of his 
administration.  The GSL often supports small rice farmers, 
with very high fertilizer subsidies, rather than encouraging 
production of higher value-added crops for export.  The GSL 
also emphasizes small landholdings for subsistence 
agriculture, although the land could be more efficiently 
farmed in larger holdings.  Still, despite the differing 
strategies, both the USG and GSL view food security as an 
important common goal, and there is potential for 
cooperation.  End Comment. 
BUTENIS