26 March 2020 – Home delivery of essential items begin to avoid marketplace gatherings

Type of Intervention: Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Finance/Economy, Social Services, Transportation
Intervention Categories: Legal and policy; New initiatives
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Head of the Presidential Task on Continuous Supply, Operation and Coordination of Services

Overview: In order to prevent uncontrolled gathering of people at market places amidst effort to combat COVID – 19, a special mechanism has been established to deliver essential food items to homes. This will be implemented through a local system in collaboration with Cooperative Societies and supermarket chains. Mr. Basil Rajapaksa made these observations during a meeting held today (25 March) at the Presidential Secretariat with all District Secretaries, Heads of banks and State and private entities tasked with the supply of essential food items.
 Programme aims at empowering domestic farmers and national economy
 Effective mechanism to distribute rice and vegetables island-wide
 Collaborative effort between Co-Op shops and super markets to deliver goods
 Special scheme to distribute medicines through state hospitals, private pharmacies and postal department
 Round the clock fuel stations to be kept open in each area
 Commercial Banks included into essential services category
Full details here: https://www.presidentsoffice.gov.lk/index.php/2020/03/25/home-delivery-of-essential-commodities-begins/?lang=en

Other links: 1
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – other
Evidence/Justification: In order to prevent uncontrolled gathering of people at market places amidst effort to combat COVID – 19, a special mechanism was needed to deliver essential food items to homes.