Among Asian countries:

Lanka has highest percentage of breast feeding

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Sri Lanka has the highest percentage of breast feeding (76%) among all Asian countries. Health Ministry has already made arrangements to increase this percentage up to 100 within next few years through its 'Infant friendly hospitals' concept, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman at the moment Sri Lankan infants are fed only with breast milk up to six months and after that they receive breast milk with supplementary food till they turn two years. During this period Family Health Midwives monitor mothers and new born babies to make sure that babies receive adequate breast milk.