President Directs Contingency Planning Amid Middle East Conflict 📈

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a high-level meeting with ministry secretaries and institutional heads today (March 15) to ensure the stability of essential services as tensions escalate in the Middle East. • Sector Focus: Priority given to Health, Agriculture, Fisheries, Industry, and Education to maintain operational continuity during potential supply chain disruptions. • Energy Security: Officials were instructed to explore regional-level essential fuel reserves, specifically for the Health sector, to mitigate localized shortages. • Remote Work: Ministry secretaries are to submit reports on the feasibility of transition to Work-From-Home (WFH) protocols for official duties to reduce mobility demand. • Digital Infrastructure: The President ordered an immediate update to the existing Digital QR Code System to rectify shortcomings and streamline essential resource distribution. • Strategic Coordination: Emphasized a shift from isolated departmental decisions to a unified national response, focusing on alternative mechanisms and advance preparedness.