Over 50 per cent school children to get free midday meals next year

By Yohan Perera

While accepting that there are nutrition issues among most of the school children, the Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha told Parliament that 51 per cent of the children will be given a free midday meal from next year. 

 He said the amount spent to provide a free midday meal for a child is Rs 60 at the moment, but it will be increased up to Rs 75 from next year.

“We have received 6,000 Mt of rice out of 10,000 MT which has been assured by China,” he said.
Also, the Minister assured that uniforms will be provided to school children from the beginning of next year.