News
FSP: Govt. planning to shut down Thriposha Company
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.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Institute [NBRI] has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura valid upto 0900 AM on 23rd May 2026.
Accordingly,
LEVEL I [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella and Dehiowita in the Kegalle district and Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Horana, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Pelmadulla, Kiriella, Elapatha, Kalawana and Nivithigala in the Rathnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Mirigama and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Agalawatta and Mathugama in the Kalutara district, Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district and Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district.
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Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Based on the heavy rainfall currently being received in the Kalu River Basin and the analysis of water level data recorded at hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kalu River Basin, it is hereby warned that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next
few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River.
The affected areas include the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Elapatha, Kiriella in Ratnapura District.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists and passengers travelling through the affected regions, are strongly requested to act with utmost vigilance and to take all necessary
precautions. Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
A considerable rainfall has occurred in the catchment areas of the Aththanagalu Oya Basin as atb5.00 AM today (22).
By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations on the Aththanagalu Oya, there is a possibility of a flood situation occuring in some low lying
areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys situated in Diwulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-ela, Katana and Wattala Div8sional Secretaries Divisions within next 48 hours.
Owing to this situation, there is a possibility of some of the roads running through these lowlying areas being inundated at some places.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Kelani River valley
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura
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