Speaking at a meeting of the Ministerial Sub Committee on Food Safety and Cost of Living Control on Friday evening, the President emphasized that it is the responsibility of all officials to ensure the needs of all flood and landslide victims are taken care of.

Under the President's directions, the government has taken measures to provide an immediate payment of Rs 15,000 each to the families of flood and landslide victims.

The subcommittee also discussed the current consumer prices in the market and measures that could be taken to control the prices of commodities. It also discussed the progress of setting up 12 economic centers, Lak Sathosa outlets and cooperatives island wide.

The President instructed the officials to maintain sufficient paddy stocks to face a possible shortage in the future due to the shortage in the crop yielded  in Yala season with the experience of a severe drought, this year.

Ministers, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Johnston Fernando, Basil Rajapaksa, Rajitha Senaratne, C. B. Ratnayake, Jagath Pushpakumara, Deputy Ministers H. R. Mithrapala and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga also participated in the subcommittee meeting (KH/SI)