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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 15:40:00
24 March 2024 07:56 pm - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo, March 24 (Daily Mirror) - The Education Ministry has undertaken measures to offer a main meal at school to every student in Grades 1 through 5, starting tomorrow.
The decision was taken into consideration following recommendations from nutritionists.
Minister Susil Premajayantha had given instructions to serve the breakfast between 7.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. before the students engage in educational activities.
He said the Ministry has paid more attention to maintaining the food at a high level of nutrition and health.
"Under the theme of fostering a healthy and active generation of children, the school meal programme introduced for 2024 targets several objectives.
"These include diminishing nutritional issues among school students, enhancing daily school attendance rates, instilling positive eating and health practices, promoting educational achievement levels, and supporting local food initiatives," the Minister said.
He also said the programme is expected to fulfill the four basic objectives of building culture.
A total of 1.6 million students are the beneficiaries of this year's school feeding programme, covering all the students in the primary grades of 9,134 government schools and all schools with less than 100 students.
The government has allocated a budget of Rs. 16,600 million directly to the nine Provincial Councils and in addition, other organizations including the World Food Programme and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), also provide sponsorship.
The food required for this nutrition programme is provided by major local suppliers, and it is also a contribution to strengthening the country's manufacturing economy through direct and indirect job creation.
The official event of the 2024 school meal programme will begin tomorrow (25) at the Sujatha Girls' College in Narahenpita under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and with the participation of the Education Minister.
Concurrently, the inaugural programmes will be held at the provincial level islandwide.
A mechanism to maintain all financial controls related to this school meal programme with transparency and reports is also in place.
The Education Ministry and its Health and Nutrition Branch continuously monitor all its main management and supervision activities, from the formulation of the policy to the related tasks.
Rasika Sunday, 24 March 2024 08:07 PM
Another election jimix??? Enough is enough. People make wrong choice this time, end of game for their children too..
wonder how many give aways before election Sunday, 24 March 2024 11:11 PM
Correct Rasika, several appointments etc and this too close to a Election, smart thinking wonder if it works in Presidents favour, time will tell.
Alam Sunday, 24 March 2024 08:15 PM
Good move
cineha Sunday, 24 March 2024 10:12 PM
Its better the cost of the meal is distributed to parents themselves as a grant. Now what the children get is a stale meal after all the kick backs and commissions.
Dee Monday, 25 March 2024 06:21 AM
Yes. They can booze with it and blame the government saying children don’t have ‘3 square meals’ .
Raven Monday, 25 March 2024 09:50 AM
If that happens the 'cost' will end up at the local tavern.
Ram Monday, 25 March 2024 02:25 AM
There are children coming from well to do backgrounds who may not need the meal If a survey is done to exclude them lot of money can be saved
last chance Monday, 25 March 2024 04:14 AM
Election, election, stupid rulers have again embarked on the same tactics that they have engaged in from the Independence to device the general public to grab their votes. This time the children will eat but their parents will not vote for these political parasites.
Roy Monday, 25 March 2024 04:51 AM
Certainly he’ll need to have ways and means to create funds for election propaganda spending to get his party and seat in parliament.
Gune Monday, 25 March 2024 05:29 AM
Who is preparing these meals? Are they being prepaired hygienically? How much is paid as commissions and bribes? Next we should not hear kids being sick from food poisoning.
Dee Monday, 25 March 2024 06:28 AM
You won’t be able to satisfy the parents. They will remain complaining saying poor quality meal. Because for a majority, a healthy meal means junk food full of sugar, oil and flavor enhancers. Personal experience, a home cooked good meal was seen as bad at an alms giving. When asked about preferred food- choice was ‘fried rice’ and ‘deval’ . These kids and their parents will prefer ‘pasty’ and a sugar packed ‘cool’ over nutritious meals
Jude Monday, 25 March 2024 06:44 AM
Absolutely Good move, but timing shows government desperately trying to reach the masses, but it's too late. People overwhelmingly supporting NPP. Only an election postponement can delay the inevitable. And the conspiracy in the works yeah elections will be postponed at least by 2 years except NPP all other political parties endorsed the idea. If the elections were held on due time in October it's gonna be More than Landslide, well it's gonna be Earth Shattering victory for NPP.
Dee Monday, 25 March 2024 01:48 PM
Yup if that happens- Sri Lanka would be shattered for sure. (Don’t know about earth)
Randeranage Nakipala Monday, 25 March 2024 04:27 PM
Parents are paying majority of earning as tax to enjoy these Pin Gon 225!! Now giving children a meal to cover all! Still some Pin Gonas are going after them!!
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