News
Children have started losing weight rapidly
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Studying the reports and data from regional health officials show that in certain parts of the country, children have started losing weight rapidly, Prof. G.N. Duminda Guruge, Professor in Health Promotion of the Rajarata University says.Nutrition, especially children’s nutrition, was among the most affected by the country’s severe economic crisis, he said.
“Some pelple say no matter what happens Sri Lankans will survive by eating ‘something.’ This is true. I am sure most people can find something to eat. Yes, the number of meals and the quantity of each meal have decreased for most, but most people eat something. However, one needs to obtain the right amount of nutrition if they are to be assured of long-term wellbeing,” Prof. Guruge said.
Health staff do a lot and those at the grassroots know the gravity of not taking proper nutrition. Health staff at the grassroots check up on children monthly and take measurements, he said.
“Compared to previous years, the number of children who are seriously underweight has increased in certain parts of the country. Weight is not the only thing to worry about, we must also think of the height of children. This is an aspect that is widely ignored, even by parents,” he said.
Prof. Guruge said that he is not certain if the decision makers of the country have felt the gravity of these developments. Nutrition of children is actually an issue that will be felt inter-generationally, he said.
“We are not thinking long term. We are trying to see if we can solve this issue by distributing some goods. Of course, we need to do this to manage the situation in the long term. However, what is our long-term plan? We must use new technologies and empower people. This is the best approach for community health,” he said.Prof. Guruge said that people of the country must feel the need for improved nutrition and wellbeing of the children. At times, officials in charge of health at grassroots are more concerned about the nutrition of children than parents, he said.
“Is this a problem of education? Or are we not communicating properly? We need to educate people in a manner that they understand, and we must also show respect to people,” he said.
Prof Guruge noted that most rural children do get carbohydrates through rice or some tubers. However, they are not getting enough protein because they are expensive.
“We must look at sources of protein that are cheaper and can be accessed where they live. However, changing food habits is not easy. We must look at how these habits have come about. Habits are created. People eat highly processed sugary and starchy food and even during this time of crisis most families spend about 6,000 rupees on these items. An egg is about 60 rupees. You can eat 100 eggs with the money you spend on processed food that is bad for you. Even when eggs were 10 rupees some people didn’t eat enough eggs, but they ate processed food,” he said.
Prof. Guruge said that alcoholism that prevails in certain parts of the country, has also contributed to the malnutrition of children.
“Fathers come home intoxicated and abuse the mothers. Such mothers are often not in a state to worry too much about the needs of children. However, this can only be stopped by community intervention,” he said.
An estimated 6.2 million people (28 per cent of the population) are moderately acute food insecure, while 66,000 people are severely acute food insecure, according to UNICEF. UNICEF said that 41.8 percent of families spend more than 75 per cent of their expenditures on food. This leaves little to spend on health and education. Many families have exhausted their savings and are struggling due to crippling inflation, UNICEF said.
It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68
She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.
The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.
In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.
Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.
I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.
I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his
legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.
This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.
In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:
1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;
2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;
3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and
4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.
This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.
I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.
The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.
A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.
The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.
The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.
Sri Lankan singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke passes away at the age of 68
Tensions erupt in Indian state after 11-year-old raped and murdered
US and Iran trade attacks as Khamenei is buried
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Canadian PM visits Saudi Arabia to strengthen energy, mining partnerships
Mbappe and Dembele net as France beat Morocco to reach World Cup semifinal
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