Unsuitable rice for schools sourced by WFP, not government: Minister

25 April 2024 10:47 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 19 Bookmark

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Yohan Perera and Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

Colombo, April 25 (Daily Mirror) - The rice distributed among schools said to be unsuitable for children's co consumption was provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) and not by the government, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha assured today.

Speaking in Parliament today, he said those packets of rice were provided additionaly by the WFP to support the government programme.

The government ensures that food distributed with government funds is suitable for children's consumption. Even after stocks of rice are distributed to Provincial Education Centres through the Director General of Health Services, they advise regular quality checks with the assistance of Provincial Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), Minister Premajayantha said.

The government allocated Rs. 110 for each child, with additional funds coming from various sources. As a result, the Minister requested that the government-funded stocks of rice should not be mixed with those provided by the WFP programme.

Comments - 19

Sunil Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:01 AM

Message to WFP - Appoint a high level commitee of Fraud, Audit and Procurement specialists from diverse nationalities and find out whether due process was followed by WFP Procurement and Finance Teams and thoroughly investigate whether Indian supplier bribed the WFP team.

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Nimal Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:02 AM

This wretched regime cannot wash its hands out of this sordid state of affairs. This is what it has in store for the children of this nation.

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Kadmin Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:05 AM

Who allowed WFP to distribute? If the situation was reversed then government would be quick to take the glory.

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MT Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:14 AM

All persons responsible must be taken to task by the Government without passing the ball.

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BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:15 AM

It is highly likely that an international Organization such as WFP will purchase unsuitable rice. Funding could be from WFP but some of you crooks must have been in the deal to procure the rice.

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Onlooker Thursday, 25 April 2024 12:10 PM

That is not what you and Ranil said - they made out that the whole rice distribution was by government as a gesture of the government. Now we know you tried to get credit but now backtracking.

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Lion Thursday, 25 April 2024 12:23 PM

At first big boy is feeding the school children to give impression that he is the master of this food program to deceive the parents to collect votes. Once the quality of rice become an issue his Sunday fair Ambattaya, is making a statement to clear him.

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Rip Winkle Thursday, 25 April 2024 12:24 PM

When have you ever accepted responsibility for the countless instances of bungling on either your part or that of the government? Spineless.

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citizen Thursday, 25 April 2024 12:30 PM

Mr. Minister Governments responsibility to check before distributing the rice to school, Don't Pass the ball to WFP, Government act with a proud manner those rice's where distributing by current government, (When Election is in the corner) after the expiration found passing the ball to WFP. what a shame.. very sad to poor children's

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Roshanaly Thursday, 25 April 2024 01:23 PM

Rice given by the WFP would have gone to the Pettah Market for higher price and replaced by inferior quality.

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Jayantha Thursday, 25 April 2024 04:23 PM

WFP is equally corrupt mate. The officials are enjoying a luxury life.

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Gunarathne Thursday, 25 April 2024 02:30 PM

Looks another Money Scam. Make an inquiry. Both locally and internationally.

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Grace Thursday, 25 April 2024 03:02 PM

Heartless politicians and their families are eating Basmati rice and offerings rice to poor people and their children rice which are not suitable for human consumption. Cook and serve this rice in parliament canteen to 225 1 Non- human beings.

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Jayantha Thursday, 25 April 2024 04:22 PM

WFP,IMF are higly corrupt organization. Officials in these organizations are enjoying a luxury life at the cost of donors and those who fund these organizations. All officials in above organization should be investigated by an international court.

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M Fernando Thursday, 25 April 2024 06:17 PM

So no Quality Control or Import Controls by the government ? Anyone can bring anything into the country with impunity ? The real story is probably that the good grain was squirreled away by government-connected stooges and old grain in storage was released for distribution. How naïve does the government think the people are ??

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Buddhist Thursday, 25 April 2024 07:26 PM

What an idiotic statement. WFP would not have supplied the rice from its head office; it would have bought the rice from a Sri Lankan source, or it would have funded the government to buy and supply it. Shouldn't the minister investigate that first without making stupid statements in the Parliament?

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navratne willamune Friday, 26 April 2024 08:19 AM

very often these donation/aid etc given to third world countries are close to expiry date, they get rid of this stuff and make it look like helping others

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Ravana Friday, 26 April 2024 08:34 AM

Bad economy? Blame the others Crash at car race? Blame the others People uprising due to hardship? Blame the others Unfit rice? Blame the others Elect those who will take blame none. Don't choose from parties or posters. Upali Wijewardana and Lalith Kotalawala for example as we missed

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RV Pillai Friday, 26 April 2024 10:39 AM

Why the Government is allowing third parties to give rice without checking the quality. You will see lot of malpractices when the food for children is fully introduced. Risk factors to children should be weighed . The main benefactors on this scheme will be some businessmen

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