Sri Lanka’s national school meal programme has been bolstered through a contribution of US$1 million from the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), in partnership with World Food Program USA.

The funding supports the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Sri Lanka’s Home Grown School Feeding and rice fortification projects that allow children to receive nutrient-rich food in school.

Through this generous contribution, 100,000 children in selected schools are receiving rice fortified with iron and folic acid. Additionally, 2,700 smallholder farmers are receiving agriculture and poultry farming tools and training, empowering them to supply food for school meals.

“School feeding programmes are a game changer in strengthening fragile food systems,” said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, WFP Sri Lanka’s Representative and Country Director. “By empowering school meal suppliers and farmers to produce food for the meals, we are creating a formal system that boosts livelihoods and enhances the sustainability of school feeding. We are grateful for the support from the Lions Clubs International Foundation and the World Food Program USA, which enables us to continue this work.”

Launched in 2020, WFP’s Home Grown School Feeding Programme provides suppliers and smallholder farmers with the tools, training and other resources needed to grow food and rear poultry. By integrating farmers within the national school meal programme system, they are guaranteed a steady income while schools are assured of an uninterrupted supply of fresh ingredients for their meals. This model helps improve child nutrition, boosts local economies, and financially empowers communities.

For many poor families, school feeding substitutes a considerable portion of their food expenditure. Making fortified rice available in the meals greatly improves their nutritional value, boosting children’s consumption of essential vitamins and minerals. 

WFP has been supporting Sri Lanka’s national school meal programme for over 20 years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, as part of broader efforts to address malnutrition. 

This latest project is jointly supported by World Food Program USA—an organisation that mobilises American policymakers, businesses, and individuals to support WFP’s mission—and LCIF, which empowers humanitarian service through grants, programmes, and partnerships leveraging their worldwide network of volunteers. (Newswire)

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The Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means has instructed the Ministry of Education to provide a report on the progress of the meal programme introduced for primary school children.

Chair of the Committee, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka says a report was called to ascertain whether there has been an increase in student attendance in primary schools following the meal programme.

The Education Ministry has also been instructed to provide a report on schools with less than 100 students with the mid-day meal programme, to provide the number of students in primary grades and the number of students given meals in schools where there are only less than 100 students. 

Apart from the said, MP Patali has also instructed the Ministry of Education to report on the progress regarding the entire school meal programme.

The above matters were discussed when the Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means met at the Parliament premises under the chairmanship of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka recently.

It was disclosed during the Committee meeting that the meals provided to children in government schools have increased from 1.1 million to 1.6 million in 2024, while the Rs. 80 allotted for each child has increased to Rs. 110.

It was also informed that criteria have been prepared regarding the quality of the meal and the follow-up regarding the meal programme will be done by the Provincial Department of Education, Regional Educational Services officers and public health inspectors.

It was reported that 600,000 school students come to school without breakfast, and after the implementation of this meal programme, the attendance of school children has increased.

It was also stated that 16.6 billion rupees are spent on school meals per year, but there is a shortfall of about 4 billion rupees. 

MP Patali said although Sri Lankans abroad are very willing to provide assistance for the school meal programme, they are reluctant to provide such assistance directly to the government. He, therefore, instructed the officials to find out whether there is any legal obstacle to providing such assistance to teachers’ unions and school development societies. 

Furthermore, he instructed to prepare a system for receiving complaints based on social media and stated to use a system such as regular reporting on the quality of food provided through WhatsApp. (Newswire)

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The distribution of fortified rice, provided by the World Food Program (WFP) on behalf of the program initiated under the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, to provide a nutritious meal for school students, commenced at the Veyangoda warehouse complex today (Apr 19).

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD, fortified rice is being provided for school meals in an effort to reduce iron deficiency among school children.

This distribution will be conducted under the supervision of M.H.A.M. Riflan, Director General for the Partnership Secretariat for World Food Programme Co-operation (PSWFPC), which operates under the purview of the Presidential Secretariat.

As planned, the distribution of 735 metric tons of rice to provincial-level schools commenced today as part of the first phase and will continue tomorrow (20). This rice stock is being delivered to schools under the supervision of officials from the respective Provincial Departments of Education and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs).

Meanwhile, Director General for the PSWFPC, Riflan said 378.835 metric tons of dhal, 412.08 metric tons of sunflower cooking oil, and 300 metric tons of dates will be distributed to schools following the start of the new school term on May 19.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Education has implemented measures to provide a main meal at school for all students in grades 1-5 across the country. Following nutritionists’ recommendations, students receive breakfast between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. daily before engaging in educational activities.

Under the theme of ‘Healthy Active Generation,’ the 2024 school meal program aims to reduce nutritional problems among students, increase daily school attendance, foster good eating and health habits, contribute to the improvement of educational achievement levels, and fulfil the fundamental objectives of promoting local food culture.

The school feeding program for this year extends its benefits to 1.6 million students, including primary students from 9,134 government schools, as well as smaller schools with fewer than 100 students. 

A budget of Rs. 16.6 billion has been allocated to the nine provincial councils by the government, supplemented by sponsorship from entities such as the World Food Program (WFP) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). (Newswire)

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The Samagi Jana Balawegaya-led government will provide meals to all school children, said party leader MP Sajith Premadasa, slamming the incumbent government’s current meal distribution programme.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that the government has commenced providing meals only for elementary school children, which was a shameful policy. 

Stating that children in the same school should not be divided and categorized, the MP said that an SJB-led government will ensure that all school children are provided with meals. 

He made the remarks while participating in the 134th phase of the SJB’s ‘Sakwala Smart classroom programme’ under which smart classroom equipment worth Rs. 1 million was provided to the Tangalle Kotawasa Maha Vidyalaya in Hambantota. (NewsWire)

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