COLOMBO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations pledged on Thursday to provide technical assistance requested by Sri Lanka to manage the fall armyworm pest, a statement from the FAO said.

The FAO said all the major maize growing areas of Sri Lanka had been affected by the pest.

"There is a growing concern that it may affect other crops, including rice," the statement said.

The statement said the pest can cause significant damage to crops and affect the livelihood of farmers.

The FAO said raising awareness about the pest and understanding lessons learned from other parts of the world, including available management options are essential first steps in responding to the situation in Sri Lanka.