News
Balanced diet not available to most Lankan families
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The current economic crisis has made it difficult for most families to have a balanced diet, Consultant Community Physician, Dr. Sachintha Dilhani told the media, in Colombo, on Thursday.She said that according to 2022 data, 40 percent of Sri Lankan families were food insecure, and this has made it really hard for most people to eat the way doctors advise them.
“When we mean food security, we mean to be in an environment where most people can access nutritious food. We know that most people can’t afford to eat fish and meat and even good carbohydrates,” she said.
Dr. Dilhani added that as a solution to the nutritional crisis, the Health Ministry has published a list of foods that can be used as alternatives to expensive foods that are traditionally recommended by doctors.
“There are a lot of traditionally used greens like murunga leaves, neeramulliya, sarana and thampala. These are hardly used in the urban areas now, but these have high nutritional value,” she said.
Dr. Dilhani said that nuts, too, are a highly nutritious food. However, most people who produce nuts, like peanuts and cashews, do not consume them.
“They are sold to the towns, or are exported. However, those who produce these foods often suffer from low nutrition. We also encourage people to eat jackfruit seeds. People can also eat smaller fish instead of tuna or sear fish,” she said.
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday revealed that a USD 625,000 payment made by Sri Lanka’s Department of Posts to the US Postal Service (USPS) had not been received by the intended party.
The declaration was made at the post-Cabinet media briefing.
According to the Minister, an investigation has been initiated into the incident.
The Minister said that an investigation was underway within the Sri Lanka Postal Department regarding the missing funds paid to the US Postal Service.
He added that the US Postal Service has indicated the non-receipt of a payment amounting to USD 625,000, and that investigations were being conducted by both the Postal Department and the CID to determine how the incident occurred.
Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
USD 625,000 meant for US Postal Service goes missing
End of the road for Shammi Silva
Mattala Wildlife Unit to boost revenue, tourism and investor confidence
NPP drowning in sea of scams
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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