Sri Lanka is facing multiple crises. Among them, the one hitting its population where it hurts the most is food insecurity. As per UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) report in July 2022, two in five Sri Lankan households are not consuming adequate diets. A majority of the assessed households (61%) are regularly using food-based coping strategies such as reducing the amount of food they eat and eating less preferred and less nutritious food.

This webinar from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will examine the food security situation in Sri Lanka, and the short-term responses from international financing institutions and potential long-term solutions. The webinar aims to: 

a. Discuss the genesis, evolution, and the impact of the food security crisis in Sri Lanka  
b. Exchange ideas on appropriate responses and brainstorm on practical solutions  
c. Discuss potential pathways for promoting climate-resilient agriculture and nature-based solutions to achieve long-term food security.

Speakers

• Qingfeng Zhang, Chief, Rural Development and Food Security (Agriculture) Thematic Group, concurrently OIC, Environment Thematic Group, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, ADB
• Kenichi Yokoyama, Director General, South Asia Department, ADB
• Bruno Carrasco, Director General concurrently Chief Compliance Officer, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, ADB
• Susana Moreno, Blockchain Technical Solutions Consultant, WFP
• Cristina Coslet, Global Information and Early Warning System Officer for Far East Asia, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives
• Abdurrahim Siddiqui, Representative and Country Director, WFP, Sri Lanka
• Sanath Ranawana, Principal Water Resources Specialist, South Asia Department, ADB
• H.D. Sudarshana A. Jayasundara, Senior Social Development Officer (Gender), South Asia Department, ADB
• Martin Lemoine, Unit Head, Agribusiness Investment Team, Private Sector Operations Department, ADB
• Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator, UN Country Team, Sri Lanka