US Commits $32.5 Mn to Feed Sri Lankan Students

COLOMBO (News 1st); In a significant commitment to food security and education in Sri Lanka, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a commitment of $32.5 million to provide nutritious meals to nearly 200,000 students over the next five years. 

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, highlighted the expanded reach of the program, now including urban poor children in addition to rural areas. 

She emphasized the impact of the program on keeping children in school and fostering future generations' potential, contributing to social stability and economic growth. 

Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha announced plans to launch a midday meal program for all primary school students, reaching 1.6 million children. He also outlined ongoing education reforms, including administrative changes and curriculum development aimed at improving student learning outcomes.

With this latest contribution, the national school meal program will be able to provide nutritious meals to close to 20% of Sri Lankan students.