January 07, 2023, Colombo: Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has said to ban sugary soft drinks and food made from wheat flour in school canteens and encourage the sale of food made from rice flour and natural fruit drinks.
The Minister said steps had been taken to appoint a special committee to carry out a related program. He also said that it had been decided to appoint the said committee with his guidelines after getting the views of the Director General of Health Services, who is the main food regulator of the country. The minister also said that the committee would include officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and representatives of Mawbima Lanka Padanama.
Mavbima Lanka Pathanama Organization representatives Aryaseeli Wickramanayake, Dr. K.M. Vasantha Bandara and Sumit Vanniarachchi met the Agriculture Minister and discussed the above project.
They have also requested the minister to ban the sale of wheat-based products and sweet drinks, not only in school canteens but also in government institutions, and promote the sale of rice flour-based food products and natural fruit-based drinks.
