PM Calls for Healthier School Nutrition Programme Beyond Free Meals

COLOMBO (News 1st): Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, has stressed that Sri Lanka's school nutrition programme should extend far beyond the provision of free meals to selected groups of students and instead focus on creating a healthier and more informed generation.

The Prime Minister made these remarks during a special discussion with representatives of the World Food Programme (WFP) held at Temple Trees on August 24.

During the meeting, Dr. Amarasuriya emphasized that the government's school nutrition programme should not be viewed solely as a mechanism to provide free meals to targeted beneficiaries. Instead, she said, its broader objective should be to promote healthy eating habits, improve nutrition awareness and foster positive health practices throughout the entire school system.

Highlighting the importance of addressing nutrition challenges in Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister noted that nutrition remains an issue requiring sustained national attention. She underscored the need to strengthen the promotion of healthy dietary habits alongside primary healthcare and preventive health measures.

Dr. Amarasuriya also pointed out that nutrition-related programmes are currently being implemented at school level, within early childhood development initiatives and among selected families. However, she cautioned that identifying and addressing the root causes of health concerns is essential, particularly at a time when non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are spreading rapidly across the country.

The Prime Minister further stressed that future policy decisions related to nutrition and public health should be guided by scientific research and credible data rather than assumptions, ensuring that long-term strategies deliver meaningful and measurable outcomes.

Representatives of the World Food Programme commended the Sri Lankan government's ongoing efforts to strengthen school nutrition initiatives and pledged their continued support for the programme.

The WFP delegation also highlighted the importance of sustaining the positive progress already achieved and emphasized that closer collaboration among universities, the Ministry of Education and United Nations agencies would be vital to ensuring the long-term success of nutrition programmes across the country.