School Canteen Policy Act will ban artificial food sales from next year

COLOMBO: The sale of sub-standard and unhygienic food devoid of any nutritious value will be banned in school canteens from next year once the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry implements the School Canteen Policy Bill and the National Nutrition Policy Bill which will be submitted for Cabinet Approval soon.

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva disclosed this when he addressed a seminar on 'The value of eating cereals' organised by the Canadian High Commission at the Colombo Hilton on Tuesday.

Minister de Silva said statistics have revealed that a large section of the Sri Lankan student population suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and kidney problems due to consumption of artificial food items and lack of exercises. This situation was clearly evident specially in several leading Colombo schools.

The Minister said that nearly 25 per cent of the country's population suffer from diabetes or early stages of the illness. The second grade diabetes which did not answer insulin treatment has also been observed in some schoolchildren. Such patients will be subject to kidney disease and ultimate loss of limbs between the ages 20 to 25.

The School Canteen Policy Bill and National Nutrition Policy Bill are aimed to prevent the sale of artificial food items leading to these illnesses in school canteens. The National Nutrition Policy Billwill encourage the sale of food made of local cereals, fruits and green leaves and promote indigenous food habits.

Canadian High Commissioner Angela Bogdan, Dr. Kanishka Kamaladasa and Dr. Kusum de Abrew were also present.