One-fifth of under-five children face malnutrition: Health Secretary

By Mangala Pavithrani

Colombo, June 4 (Daily Mirror) - Around one in every five Sri Lankan children under the age of five is affected by malnutrition, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said yesterday.

Addressing a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau, Dr. Jasinghe cited data released for National Nutrition Month 2025, which showed that 10.1% of children under five are stunted, 8.6% are wasted, 16.1% are underweight and 0.57% are overweight.

He said Sri Lanka has not made sufficient progress in improving nutrition levels since independence and noted that several programmes have been introduced in schools and other institutions to address malnutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.

Dr. Jasinghe also expressed concern over the country's declining birth rate, which he said has fallen by nearly half in recent years. He warned that the trend could result in a future labour shortage, with fewer people available to fill key positions across various sectors.

He noted that children who suffer from malnutrition are at a greater risk of becoming obese later in life. According to recent surveys, 47% of adult women and 30% of men in Sri Lanka are overweight, while 15% of women and 6% of men are classified as obese.

Obesity significantly increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, underscoring the need to improve the country's overall nutritional status, he said.

Dr. Jasinghe further pointed out that many schoolchildren and adults are increasingly consuming unhealthy snack foods and stressed the importance of promoting healthier dietary habits.

He said several initiatives are currently being implemented to combat malnutrition, including the provision of nutritious meals through school and workplace canteens and public awareness programmes on healthy eating.

The Health Secretary also emphasized the need to make nutritious foods, such as fish, more affordable while considering higher prices for unhealthy snack foods to encourage better dietary choices.