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Keheliya discussing child malnutrition and issues around student meals

19 Sep 2022

BY Buwanajee Coralage    Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella stated that the issues pertaining to child malnutrition and the adequacy of the portion size of the meals provided to schoolchildren are under discussion and will be addressed soon.  Speaking to the media yesterday (18) he further acknowledged the shortage of “Thriposha” earlier in the country. “There are discussions underway regarding the school meals for children, and if it’s confirmed that the portion size is not adequate, appropriate changes will be made. We also acknowledge that there was a shortage of ‘Thriposha’, which can also be associated with malnutrition among children,” said Rambukwella.  When informed by reporters that schoolchildren have reportedly consumed religious offerings placed in schools out of hunger, he stated that this is a tragic development if true, and that the matter would need to be addressed immediately. He stated the presence of a critical problem in the country is clearly seen with relation to finances and food in particular. He said that rather than avoiding the problem at hand, these matters should be addressed promptly, as these problems are common to all people from all walks of life.  “Without pointing fingers and blaming those responsible for this state, everyone should come together at this moment of need to rise above this crisis,” he said. Meanwhile, consumer rights and civil rights activist Asela Sampath held a media conference in Colombo yesterday regarding child malnutrition and the school meals provided to children. Weighing the proportions on a scale of the meal to be provided for 1.7 million children in the country at the press conference, he said that the authorities are just trying to obtain funds through foreign aid by providing the bare minimum for children without any concerns about its nutritional value.  “If a meal is to be given to children, do it properly without these hoax measurements and such. Just to get the foreign aid, they are trying to give the children a rice packet of just 75 g,” charged Sampath. The meal is set to consist of an egg and 75 g of rice.


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