Education Ministry launches first digital food safety curriculum via E-Thaksalawa

Colombo, June 7 (Daily Mirror) - In a landmark move to promote food safety awareness among the country’s youth, the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education (NIE) officially launched Sri Lanka’s first-ever digital curriculum on food safety, coinciding with World Food Safety Day.

The new curriculum, accessible via the E-Thaksalawa online platform, is designed for children aged 8 to 12 and features 27 interactive modules and 14 video-based lessons aimed at fostering safe and healthy eating habits.

The launch event, held at the Ministry of Education premises, was graced by Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madura Seneviratne. Speaking at the event, Dr. Seneviratne emphasized the importance of the initiative in safeguarding public health and nurturing a culture of food security.

“This initiative equips children with vital knowledge and life skills to make safe and healthy food choices. It not only protects their health but also promotes a culture of food security in society,” he said.

The curriculum was developed with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the BESPA  project, and funded by the European Union (EU).

Also present at the ceremony were Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa, Deputy Head of Cooperation for the EU Edoardo Spacca, FAO Project Manager Tina Jayaratnam, and other officials connected to the project.

The initiative forms part of the EU-funded BESPA Project (Mainstreaming Standards-Based Best Practices for Agri-Food Sector Development), which works to strengthen Sri Lanka’s food safety regulations, raise consumer awareness, and promote responsible practices across the agri-food sector. The European Union continues to play a pivotal role in supporting food safety improvements in the country through both financial assistance and technical expertise.