India, Sri Lanka forge food supply agreement amid economic challenges

India's National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) and Sri Lanka's COOPFED have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen food supplies flowing from India to Sri Lanka. The agreement was executed with the endorsement of Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and Sri Lanka's Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Senanayake, underscoring the bilateral commitment to food security cooperation.

The MoU establishes a framework for the coordinated supply of essential food commodities from Indian cooperative networks to Sri Lankan counterparts, leveraging established trade channels between the two South Asian neighbours. The arrangement comes at a time when Sri Lanka has been working to stabilise its domestic food security following economic challenges in recent years.

Cooperative organisations in both countries have historically played a significant role in agricultural procurement and distribution. The formalised agreement seeks to harness this institutional capacity to ensure reliable supplies of key food items, benefiting consumers and supporting price stability across the island.

The development reflects the broader economic and trade relationship between India and Sri Lanka, with New Delhi serving as a key supplier of food grains and agricultural products to the island nation. Officials indicated the partnership aligns with both countries' objectives to strengthen regional food security infrastructure.