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"Today it is difficult for our children to receive the quantum of nutritional food received daily by the children of other countries. As such, we have decided to use the milk produced in the Mahaweli areas for the use of the children of the Mahaweli areas itself," said Irrigation and Water Management Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera.

He was speaking at a ceremony held at Makulewa Vidyalaya of the Mahaweli System 'H' for the distribution of free flavoured milk packets.

As a first step, three varieties of flavoured milk produced by the Mahaweli Live stock Division, packeted in 200 litre packets will be distributed to the children of the Mahaweli areas. It is being started today at the Makulewa Vidyalaya and action will be taken to expand it to the other Mahaweli areas also. It is proposed to sell these packets at a price of about Rs. 7 a packet. This is being implemented as a step towards providing nutritional food for the children, the Minister said.

Housing Development Minister P. Harrison said that this should be considered as a matter of national importance. As the then President Premadasa distributed free mid-day meals to schoolchildren today the Minister of Irrigation and Water Management is making action to distribute milk to schoolchildren. If this is implemented in the entire Mahaweli systems, it would be a very great service. Providing pure milk food to children is very important as it will improve their health. We are happy to see that the milk produced in Mahaweli areas are distributed in the Mahaweli area itself, at a very reasonable price.

Anuradhapura District Member of Parliament W. P. Ekanayake, Chairman of the Livestock Division, Palitha Samarakoone, Chairman of the Eppawela Milk Production Centre, A. K. S. Rathnawella and Head Prefect of the school D. Madhushanka also spoke.

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