Add eggs to children's meals, directs President

Atapattu BANDARA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday directed officials to add three eggs a week to schoolchildren's meals under the state sponsored lunch programme for schoolchildren.

The decision was taken when Food Security and Cost of Living Control Committee (FSCLCC) met under the patronage of the President at Temple Trees yesterday.

President Rajapaksa also instructed officials to obtain UNESCO support to make this venture a success.

"This move while ensuring a healthy student generation, will also solve woes of poultry farmers who have been confronted with a crisis due to the slump in egg prices in the market," he added. FSCLCC committee members said the people spent less to purchase vegetables this month compared to March last year. The President said this was due to the Divi Neguma national development programme.

Senior Minister S B Navinna, Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Dinesh Gunawardena, Jagath Pushpakumara, Geethanjana Gunawardena, Rajitha Senarathna and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Deputy Ministers Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and H R Mithrapala, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga , Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal and ministry Secretaries were also present.