Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a special committee to propose measures to immediately mitigate the shortage of essential items in Sri Lanka and to provide relief to the public, the Lankadeepa reported.

United National Party (UNP) Chairman Vajira Abeywardena and party Secretary Palitha Range Bandara have been appointed to the committee to hold discussions with the relevant sectors in order to provide essential food items without shortage to the public. 

Deputy UNP leader Ruwan Wijewardena has been appointed to hold discussions on the shortage of medicines.

UNP Assistant leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam will address issues related to fertilizer. 

Issues pertaining to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will be addressed by UNP National Organizer Sagala Ratnayake.

The UNP members will hold necessary discussions with their assigned sectors to find the issues at hand and provide solutions to address the issues in a report to the Prime Minister.