April 24, Colombo (LNW): In a move aimed at tackling the persistent issue of anaemia among schoolchildren, Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its commitment to a comprehensive school nutrition initiative, vowing to ensure its continuity and eventual expansion.
The announcement was made during a high-level meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat, where senior government officials and international development partners gathered to review the progress of the programme.
Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, revealed that the government has adopted a clear policy directive to maintain uninterrupted support for the national school meal programme.
This decision underscores the administration’s broader commitment to addressing malnutrition and iron deficiency among primary school pupils, particularly in underserved regions where such issues are most acute.
The programme is being developed in collaboration with several key partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gateway Foundation, and the Pathfinder Foundation.
It forms part of a larger effort to integrate nutrition-focused policies into the national education framework, with the aim of improving both health outcomes and educational performance among young learners.
A pilot phase is currently being conducted in four districts identified as having high incidences of nutritional deficiencies. This trial run includes a thorough health and nutrition study designed to assess the programme’s impact, particularly its effectiveness in reducing anaemia. Based on the results of this research, the government plans to scale the initiative nationwide.
As part of the nutritional intervention, school meals are being fortified with iron and folic acid through the use of enriched rice—an approach specifically targeted at countering iron deficiency.
The fortified meals are designed not only to improve the health of students but also to support their cognitive development and classroom performance, both of which can be adversely affected by malnutrition.
The government has earmarked Rs. 32 billion for this effort in the current fiscal year, highlighting the scale of its investment in public health and education.
Implementation is being coordinated through a multi-agency effort, involving the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and several provincial councils and national boards, including the Food Promotion Board and the Partnership Secretariat for WFP Cooperation.
The recent meeting brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including senior secretaries from key ministries, representatives from international development agencies, and health and education experts.
Their discussions centred on optimising the implementation strategy, addressing logistical challenges, and ensuring that the programme reaches the intended beneficiaries efficiently.
