The Lanka Sathosa network has commenced delivery of dry rations to the government distribution centres in all flood affected areas.
โWe are supplying to needs of all flood victims totalling more than 36000, and if this number increases we are also ready to increase deliveries. We are preparing to airlift stocks if roads are floodedโ said the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on the afternoon of 22 May. Minister Bathiudeen was in a briefing with his officials on flood relief efforts by Lanka Sathosa.
Chairman of Lanka Sathosa Rizwan Hameem said that Lanka Sathosa network is moved for relief work through Divisional Secretariats of flooded areas. โThe stocks in the entire network is being boosted to meet emergency requirements. Outlet managers began updating their dry ration stocks from yesterday May 21. ย We are not delivering dry rations directly to the victims but to all DS offices based on the quantities ordered, even large, on credit. The DS offices will be making the payments later on. We have already increased warehouse capacities in affected areas such as Ratnapura. We are making arrangements with the Disaster Management Ministry (DMC) to airlift dry rations to our outlets if land transport is blocked by floods and are impassableโ Chairman Hameem added.
Lanka Sathosa, under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, is the largest state owned retail shop network and also functions as the price setter of many essential items for the retail market-spanning 400 outlets.
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress