Sajith is concerned about the lack of a national plan for children and severe malnutrition

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition leader and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday demanded in parliament to hear from the government why it has failed to formulate a national nutrition plan for children.

Premadasa said statistics showed an alarming increase in stunting and wasting among children across the country since 2022. The surveys indicated that a quarter of households in the country were facing moderate food insecurity. The government could not claim that it had no money for children as it had spent billions of rupees bribing opposition MPs, Premadasa said.

Leader of the House Minister Susil Premajayanth said the government had taken into account the recent UNICEF reports on the malnutrition situation in the country. It provided free mid-day meals to 1.7 million children in primary classes. “We plan to extend this to classes 6, 7 and 8 and also to pre-schools. We are preparing proposals for this purpose which will be included in the upcoming budget,” the minister said.

Opposition leader Premadasa: Malnutrition situation was not only prevalent in schools but also in universities. The government had not paid Mahapola scholarships to the students, he said.

Matale District SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne: The government has no control over the egg mafia. Eggs are being sold at different prices.

Minister Premajayantha: When I was dismissed as a Minister of State in January 2022, the price of a kilo of chillies was Rs 1,200 at the Delkanda Fair. Last Sunday, it was Rs 400. Prices of all types of vegetables were below Rs 300. Inflation, which was 70 per cent in May 2022, has not been brought down. Results will come gradually because we have done the right things to make this country a better place.