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Health Ministry takes lead in cutting down salt by ordering all its canteens not to add it to rice

Published

3 years ago

2022/10/29

By Emantthi Marambe

Caterers, who maintain canteens in institutions attached to the Health Ministry will be instructed not to add salt to cooked rice in the future.The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the National Council on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCNCD).A member of the NCNCD said that algthough human body needed a small amount of sodium to function, most Sri Lankans consumed too much of it. High sodium consumption could raise blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Most of the sodium, we consume, is in the form of salt, he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that high sodium consumption (equivalent to 5 grams of salt a day) and insufficient potassium intake (less than 3.5 grams a day) contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

“Most people consume too much salt—on average 9–12 grams per day, or around twice the recommended maximum level of intake. Salt intake of less than five grams per day for adults helps to reduce blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and coronary heart attack. The principal benefit of lowering salt intake is a corresponding reduction in high blood pressure,” he said.

WHO Member States have agreed to reduce the global population’s intake of salt by a relative 30% by 2025.

“We have issued a number of press releases, held conferences, etc., asking people to reduce the consumption of salt. However, most people don’t care. We thought we need to do something more concrete and that we should start from the Health Ministry,” he said.

The NCNCD meets once in six months to discuss the state of NCDs in Sri Lanka and actions taken by health officers to combat it.

“We discussed the need to work with other ministries to reduce NCDs. For example, we want to include health science as an OL subject. The Minister of Health asked the Secretary of the Ministry to start discussing the matter with the Ministry of Education,” he said.

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INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities

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Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

10 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).

The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:

01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)

02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)

03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)

04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See

05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan

06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait

Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.