One year ago, when the COVID-19 first lockdown came, it was a challenging task for the Government and the providers of essential services to ensure an uninterrupted supply to the people.
The Presidential Task Force to provide essentials during the COVID-19 lockdown, headed by former minister Basil Rajapaksa was formed and swiftly commenced operations to ensure that the public was given access to everyday essentials needed.
Under the guidance of the Presidential Task Force, Litro Gas Lanka was among the essential service providers who took up the challenge of making their products and services available to consumers throughout the lockdown period. For Litro Gas Lanka as the national LPG provider, it was an undertaking that called for exceptional leadership and functionality skills, says Chairman and CEO, Anil Koswatte.
From the holding of a special meeting to commence operations under COVID-19 safety protocols on 20th March 2020, to reactivating a seamless supply chain, the process involved meticulous planning and a tremendous effort, but it was a task of national importance – that of ensuring that essential supplies were made available to the public at large. “The President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa gave every stakeholder the inspiration needed to recommence operations. Under their guidance, we undertook a task that had not been attempted before, under pandemic conditions.”
For every essential service provider, it was an operation that was initiated under the strictest COVID-19 safety functions. Employees and suppliers had to be brought together while the safety parameters were followed carefully. Yet, the efficiency and the clear guidance put in place by the Presidential Task Force to provide essentials during the lockdown, brought results and ensured that the public had access to consistent supplies.
As in every challenge, the COVID-19 lockdown introduced new experiences – one was to embrace innovation and technology. Many apps were introduced, contactless payments and digital commerce initiatives encouraged. The COVID-19 lockdown was a lesson in mitigating essential services under restricting conditions – for every stakeholder, it was an experience that tested the readiness and capability to ensure unbroken supplies under the most trying circumstances.
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