Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has called for Sri Lanka's school nutrition programmes to prioritize health education and preventive measures rather than focusing solely on meal distribution, during discussions with the World Food Programme.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has outlined a broader vision for school nutrition initiatives during a meeting with World Food Programme representatives at Temple Trees on August 24. Rather than limiting efforts to providing free meals to select student groups, the Prime Minister emphasized that programmes should aim to cultivate healthier dietary practices and nutrition awareness across the entire school system.

Dr. Amarasuriya highlighted the significance of addressing nutrition challenges as part of Sri Lanka's sustained public health agenda. She stressed the connection between nutrition education and preventive healthcare, particularly as non-communicable diseases continue to spread throughout the country. The Prime Minister noted that existing nutrition programmes operate at various levels, including schools, early childhood development centres, and among selected families, but emphasized the necessity of identifying and addressing underlying causes of health problems.

The government leader underscored the importance of grounding future nutrition and public health policies in scientific evidence and reliable data rather than assumptions. According to the Prime Minister, this approach would enable the development of long-term strategies capable of delivering tangible, measurable improvements in population health outcomes.

World Food Programme officials responded positively to the government's commitment, expressing their support for strengthening school nutrition initiatives. The WFP delegation emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in existing programmes and advocated for enhanced cooperation between universities, the Ministry of Education, and United Nations agencies to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of nutrition programmes nationwide.