By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday (07) said the government was planning to shut down the state-owned Thriposha Company, and such a course of action would lead to further deteriorate nutritional standards of Sri Lankan children.

FSP education Secretary and Colombo District candidate Pubudu Jayagoda said the government had issued Gazette Notification No. 2403/53 dated 27 September 2024 announcing the abolition of the state-owned Sri Lanka Thriposha Company.

“Now, Thriposha Company is not under any ministry,” he said.

“Thriposha is a vital nutritional product, recommended for underweight children under five, pregnant women suffering from malnutrition, and breastfeeding mothers,” Jayagoda said.

“Established in 1987 in partnership with a private tobacco manufacturing company, the Thriposha Company was later transferred to the Ministry of Health in 2011. When it was handed over to the government, the company met 70 percent of the country’s total demand, and with new equipment introduced in 2016, it was able to meet 100 percent of the demand,” he said.

Jayagoda said Thriposha company now produced more than the required quantity, with the surplus marketed under the brand ‘Suposha’ by the government. “Within three months of entering the market, Suposha became the best-selling cereal food in the market, meeting 70 percent of the total cereal demand in the country. The Thriposha Company is fulfilling a critical nutritional need while also generating a substantial income for the government, with an annual revenue of approximately 500 million rupees to the Treasury,” Jayagoda noted.

“Due to the production of Suposha, private cereal manufacturers in Sri Lanka are facing a significant crisis. Private companies will benefit from the closure of Thriposha,” Jayagoda said, adding that in 2023, the Wickremesinghe administration had included the Thriposha Company in the list of state ventures to be privatised in keeping with the IMF conditions.

“However, due to opposition from the people, Wickremesinghe’s government could not execute the plan. Now, we suspect that this scheme is being revived under the new President,” Jayagoda said.

He said Thriposha provided nutrition to 664,920 mothers and 925,172 children, with approximately 1.6 million packets of it distributed monthly.

“The production cost of a 750-gram packet is about 370 rupees, costing the government around 9 billion rupees annually. Despite this, the Thriposha Company generates nearly half a billion rupees in revenue from food products sold in the market,” he said.

“We urge the people to oppose this move immediately,” Jayagoda said.