COLOMBO, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A school meal program serving free breakfast to all school children from grade 1 to 5 in Sri Lanka is expected to benefit 1.6 million students this year, said the President's Media Division (PMD) on Monday.
The program, which started on Monday at 9,134 government schools as well as schools with fewer than 100 students, was launched in conformity with expert recommendations on optimal nutrition timing, the PMD said.
At the launch ceremony, President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of holistic education, advocating for a curriculum that includes both academic subjects and nutritional support for children across the country.
Under the banner of "Healthy Active Generation," the 2024 school meal program seeks to address nutritional deficiencies among students, enhance daily attendance rates, instill healthy eating and lifestyle habits, elevate academic performance, and promote local culinary traditions, according to the PMD. ■
