With malnutrition concerns, Sri Lankan pre-schoolers to get free breakfast

State Minister for Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe, announced the government’s plans to provide breakfast to all preschool children in the country this year.

Addressing a media briefing at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) Kumarasinghe stressed on the challenge of ensuring a nutritious breakfast for 120,000 pre-school children in the country. State Minister Kumarasinghe said that a request had been submitted to President Ranil Wickremesinghe to increase the allocated amount from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 per child, following reports that there exists a high prevalence of malnutrition among children in Sri Lanka.

Comprehensive action have been put in place this year to furnish a complete morning meal to all pre-school children across the island, aiming to cover all Divisional Secretariats, benefiting approximately 120,000 non-estate and 35,000 estate pre-school children, totaling 155,000 beneficiaries.

Additionally, plans are underway to distribute nutrition packs to pregnant mothers. The initiative is geared towards providing 220,214 pregnant mothers with nutrition packs for a period of 10 months, with each pack valued at Rs. 4,500 per month.