Government must focus on financial and agricultural policies amid El Niño impacts: Sajith Premadasa

03-Jul-2026

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the Government to pay close attention to the possible impacts of climate phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña on the country's financial, monetary and agricultural policies.

He made these remarks while addressing the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change.

Premadasa said the Central Bank, the Treasury and the Ministry of Agriculture should assess these impacts in advance and formulate suitable policy responses.

He pointed out that the country's agricultural contribution is declining and called on the Central Government and Provincial Councils to jointly prepare a National Agriculture Policy.

He also proposed a National Water Management Plan by integrating the Mahaweli areas with major and minor irrigation systems.

Although El Niño may not directly affect Sri Lanka, he warned that its impact on other countries could push up global prices of food, fuel and gas, affecting Sri Lanka's reserves. Therefore, he said, the Central Bank should conduct advance studies on these possible risks.

The Opposition Leader further said that during natural disasters, international financial institutions often divert funds allocated for development projects towards emergency relief. This affects ongoing national projects.

He stressed the need to reach agreements with international institutions to replenish such diverted funds. He also said Sri Lanka should seek grants rather than loans during disaster situations and accurately assess the environmental and wildlife losses caused by natural disasters.