COLOMBO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has launched sector-by-sector contingency measures to protect health, food and transport services while maintaining a neutral foreign policy stance amid the economic fallout from the ongoing Middle East conflict, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Dissanayake said Sri Lanka would not allow its neutrality to be compromised despite growing global tensions and would focus on shielding the country's economy and daily life from external shocks.
He said the government had introduced a multi-pronged plan to maintain fuel and essential services, including emergency fuel tenders, diplomatic engagement with friendly countries, fuel conservation measures, and special arrangements for key sectors such as health, agriculture, fisheries and food distribution.
The president said safety fuel stocks were being maintained for essential services, while additional systems have been set up to support public services and vulnerable sectors if the crisis persists.
He urged the public not to panic, saying the government had mechanisms in place to manage the challenge and minimize disruptions to normal life. ■