1.
GV Reservoir at low level (2 shots)
0.10

2.
SV Children queue for water (5 shots)
0.30

3.
GV Children carrying buckets and pans of water.
0.34

4.
People queuing for food (2 shots)
0.42

5.
SV School children carrying hoes into field.
0.45

6.
GV Children working in field hosing crops.
1.01

7.
SV Children picking yams and cucumbers (5 shots).
1.20



Initials APSM/1621 APSM/1636



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Food rationing as severs as during the 1939-45 War has come into force in Sri Lanka. At the same time, water is strictly rationed because of a severe drought.

There has been no rain for four months. Labugama reservoir, from which the country's capital, Colombo, draws its water, is 35 feet below normal. Bucket-carrying queues have been forming at schools and other municipal buildings where water is available for a few hours every day. Residents in hill areas, where there is low water pressure, are receiving water directly from government-controlled mains.

To offset drastic food shortages, the Prime Minister, Mrs. Bandaranaika, has launched a food-production drive on a war footing. There has been an intensive drive to supplement the national diet of rice with vegetables, such as yams and cucumbers. Agriculture has become a compulsory subject in schools, which includes students working in the fields.

At the same, Mrs. Bandaranaika has introduced emergency rationing. The rice ration has been reduced by 75 per cent, and flour is being sold in very restricted quantities. Mrs. Bandaranaika has said that rising world prices are responsible. She has threatened dire consequences to anyone who attempts commercial hoarding of scarce food-stuffs.

SYNOPSIS: With Sri Lanka in the grip of its worst drought for years and the country's main reservoir thirty-five feet lower than usual, the government has had to enforce emergency water rationing. Long queues have been forming at schools and other municipal buildings, where water is available for a few hours every day. People in hill areas, where there is low pressure, receive water from government-controlled mains. At the same time food-rationing, as severe as during the last world war, has come into force.

The rice ration has been cut by seventy-five per cent. Flour and sugar is available in very limited quantities.

An emergency food production programme on a war-time basis has been introduced. Agriculture is now a compulsory subject in high-schools, and every day students go out to tend their crops. The Prime Minister, Mrs. Bandaranaika, blames the rationing on rising world prices.

She has urged people to supplement the national diet of rice with vegetables, such as yams, tubers and cucumbers. She has also threatened heavy punishment to those who attempt commercial hoarding of necessary food-stuffs. Special distribution offices have been set up, which the army guards.