Rice shortage creeps into schools

6 January 2025 10:54 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 12 Bookmark

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By Sumanasiri Gunatilleka

Colombo, January 06 (Daily Mirror)- The students of the Debarara Junior School in Wellawaya Education Zone had been served wheat flour roti and dates for their midday meal instead of rice and curry.

When the parents questioned about it the woman who had undertaken the contract attributed it to the shortage of rice.

The strength of Debarara Junior School with classes from Year one to eleven is 121 students. The contractor should have supplied a balanced diet of rice and curry including vegetable, and meat, fish or eggs and fruits. However she had served Roti and Dates last Friday (03) much to the anxiety of the parents.

Wellawaya Zonal Director Susil Wijetilleka said on complaints received from the parents he visited the school and investigated the incident and that the contractors explained that the rice mill supplying her rice had been closed and that the shortage of rice compelled her to serve Roti and Dates for the midday meal.

He said step would be taken against the contractor after further investigations.

Comments - 12

Sunil Abrew Monday, 06 January 2025 11:13 AM

Unclean Sri Lanka concept must be nurtured and supported by all. Way forward.

0 11

Roshanaly Monday, 06 January 2025 11:18 AM

It is the duty of the contractor to supply rice, just because contractor has to pay more for the rice, he cannot supply something else.

7 12

NO EXCUSES CONTRACTOR NEEDS TO CATER ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT OR FACE HAVING THE CONTRACT BEING TERMINATED. Monday, 06 January 2025 03:41 PM

ROSHANALY, YOU ARE WRONG!!. A CHANGED MEAL OFF THE USUAL MEAL IS OKAY AND NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. HOWEVER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THE CONTRACTOR COULD HAVE HAD A MEAT, CHICKEN AND OR FISH CURRY, WHICH IS MORE SUITABLE WHEN TORI IS SERVED. DATES ARE GOOD TOO, BUT IT APPEARS THE ROTI HAD TO BE EATEN WITH DATES!! DRY. NO EXCUSES, TIME TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD STOCK OF RICE IN THE FURUTE AND OR CHANGE THE SUPPLIER, SURELY THERE ARE OTHER MILLS THAT WOULD DELIVER LARGE QTYS.

0 2

Yohan Monday, 06 January 2025 05:18 PM

In some areas Nadu rice and red kakulu rice are not available. These two are the highest consumed types of rice mate.

1 2

sarath gooneratne Monday, 06 January 2025 12:54 PM

Well , the contractor at least gave a good meal for the students. You don't have to eat rice every day.

6 16

ROTTI AND DATES IS FAR BETTER THAN NO MEAL AT ALL Monday, 06 January 2025 03:50 PM

SARATH, ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

0 3

Hon. Sarneris Monday, 06 January 2025 02:01 PM

Food poisoning and diarrhea waiting to happen. A safer alternative might be high nutrition biscuits, like the one supplied by CARE in the 1970s. or high nutrition snacks like Triposha, dried fruits and nuts.

3 2

Ram P Monday, 06 January 2025 02:07 PM

Contract will stipulate what to provide as a meal and if the contract is breached dismiss the contractor and award the tender to another

2 5

Independent Monday, 06 January 2025 04:01 PM

Sri Lankans love getting everything free and they still question.

1 5

Adwani Monday, 06 January 2025 05:47 PM

But still the Sri Lankans are not aware of the nutritional value of the Dates and Roti.

2 3

Dr Tissa Fernando Monday, 06 January 2025 07:17 PM

School meals programme is for the benefit of the contractors. They will feed the students some expired stuff.

0 1

Labby Monday, 06 January 2025 08:37 PM

Imagine the uproar if this happened during any previous government..? During election time the NPP projected themselves as saviours of the nation. Now I think they have to save themselves.

1 7

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