The Presidential Task Force for Essential Services appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to ensure civilian life without any hindrance amid the COVID-19 pandemic has begun operations for the coordination, monitoring and the provision of essential public services, giving priority to the districts most at risk of the coronavirus.
The Head of the Presidential Task Force on Essential Services Basil Rajapaksa at a meeting on essential services at Temple Trees on Friday (27) emphasised the need to strengthen the national economy, Head of Media Coordination, Presidential Task Force on Essential Services Prof.Charitha Herath said.
He said Friday’s discussion attended by Heads of State and private sector institutions in the banking and financial sectors had focused on several key matters: the continuation of activities in all commercial banks for the conduct of international transactions, clearing of checks, maintenance of ATM machines and the possibility of having mobile ATM services and maintaining of services at bank branches with a minimum staff.
It was decided to have at least one bank branch open daily for a designated number of hours in each DS division in areas where the curfew is in force. Attention was focused on the need for the bank to go to the customer and the introduction of mobile banking services rather than having customers come to the banks at a time of risk such as this.
Prof. Herath said on Thursday (26), many decisions were taken to provide essential public services and establish normalcy within communities. Officials from the sectors of food, electricity, water, daily wage earners, fisheries and transport for essential services participated.
The Task Force would carry out its responsibilities covering every district in the country, giving priority to Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Puttalam, Jaffana, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts which have been identified as most at risk.
The Task Force would provide facilities to farmers for the production of rice, grams, vegetables, fish, dairy and egg and crops including tea, cinnamon and pepper. It would maintain a proper coordination with Ports, Customs, corporate banking sector and other State regulatory entities to create a conducive environment to import essential dry food items and medicine and export goods such as tea and sanitary apparel and implement decisions.
The Task Force will ensure the supply of food items purchased from producers directly to the consumers while presenting operational reports to the President. Some of the other tasks include directing and providing facilities to the Departments of Agriculture and Agrarian Services to provide seeds, plants, fertilizer and equipment required for farming activities. It would encourage seed farming, use of organic fertilizers and home gardening as well as grant loans to farmers through Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Regional Development Banks and Samurdhi Banks. The Task Force would organize Co-operatives, Sathosa, Economic Centers, Cargills, Keells, Arpico and Laugfs business networks while helping farmers in their farming and plantation activities.