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Prioritising Child-Friendly Policies: Addressing Sri Lanka’s child malnutrition crisis

Published

2 years ago

2023/10/13

By Dr Nisha Arunatilake

Even before the onset of COVID-19, malnutrition stood as a significant driver of multi-dimensional poverty among children in Sri Lanka. Startling data from the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) in 2019 revealed that one in three children aged 0 to 4 who are multidimensionally poor, are either underweight or stunted. The multiple crises that affected Sri Lanka since 2020 have only exacerbated the already precarious nutrition situation in poor households. This blog argues the need for prioritising social policies focused on children to ensure sustained investment in human capital.

Crisis Impact on Government Initiatives

In response to the pressing nutrition issues in the country, successive governments have introduced several initiatives to maintain the minimum required nutrition levels to ensure unhampered growth and development. However, the crisis affected several of these nutrition programmes, depriving households of access to much-needed social assistance for maintaining nutrition, when it was needed the most.

One such initiative that was adversely affected was the Triposha programme. Triposha is a nutrient-dense food supplement given to pregnant mothers and young children affected by malnutrition. During the crisis, supply chain disruptions and issues of sourcing ingredients necessary for production resulted in a 51% drop in the production of Thriposha in 2020. This resulted in many identified households not receiving nutrition assistance through Triposha.

Another programme adversely affected by the economic crisis was the breakfast programme for preschool (BPS) children. The BOS provides children in selected pre-schools with a daily nutritious breakfast according to the Ministry of Health guidelines. In 2017, a sum of LKR 30 was allocated per child per meal for this programme. Despite high food inflation, this amount was not revised, making it impossible to supply meals as specified by the Ministry of Health.

The Plight of the Urban Poor

A study by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) finds that the recent economic crisis had devastating effects on the food environment in urban underserved settlements (USSs). According to retail and eatery owners serving these communities, food prices have skyrocketed during the economic crisis. The price of nadu-rice, the cheapest variety of rice in the market, doubled from LKR 100 in August 2021 to LKR 220 in August 2022. The prices of other staples frequently consumed by poor households, like dhal, eggs, dried fish and dried sprats, also increased several folds.

The crisis also reduced the availability of food in the market. The policies introduced by the government to contain the import costs, such as the chemical fertiliser ban and food imports, reduced the variety of food in the market. Further, the vendors were storing less expensive food items in the market as the demand for expensive food items reduced due to low affordability.

As explained by a retail owner in the area:

“I used to stock 50kg of rice earlier, now, I only stock 5kg of rice.”

“We used to keep stocks of green gram and cowpea. But now only one or two customers buy those items, so I do not stock them anymore.”

Coping with Food Inflation

The households in the USSs were using various methods to cope with food inflation. Most stopped eating from outside and reduced buying snacks. Consumption of milk, vegetables, fruits, and meat has all been reduced. One of the main sources of fat for USS residents, coconuts, has also declined during the crisis. As explained by some of the residents:

“We used to drink tea with milk in the morning and afternoon. Now we can only have milk tea in the morning.”

“We used to eat about 250g of vegetables per meal earlier. Now we make the same amount of vegetables last for two meals.”

“We only eat chicken once or twice a week. We try to manage mainly with dried fish and eggs for protein.”

“We rarely eat fruits now. Fruit is expensive. If we buy fruit, we don’t have money for other food.”

“We used to eat about one coconut a day earlier. Now we make one coconut last several days, as the price of coconuts has increased.”

The above findings show that households were either marginally or moderately food insecure during the economic crisis (See infographic). Households in USSs have compromised on food quality and variety, or reduced food consumption due to the crisis.

Conclusion

The findings from Sri Lanka emphasise the pressing issue of child malnutrition, which has only worsened amidst recent crises. Although there are several government initiatives to improve the nutrition levels of children in the country, their operations were severely affected by the economic crisis.

More attention needs to be paid to sustaining the social policies focusing on children, particularly during times of crisis. Only by doing so, we can ensure that children’s development is not compromised due to crisis and that they have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of the adversities they face.

Link to original blog: https://www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics/2023/10/11/prioritising-child-friendly-policies-addressing-sri-lankas-child-malnutrition-crisis/

Dr Nisha Arunatilake is the Director of Research at IPS. She heads the Labour, Employment and Human Resource Development unit at the IPS. Her research interests include labour market analysis, education and skills development, migration and development, and health economics. She holds a BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics summa cum laude from the University of the South, USA and an MA and PhD in Economics from Duke University, USA. (nisha@ips.lk)

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Dialog delivers strong growth, stronger national contribution in FY 2025

Published

18 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dialog Axiata PLC announced, Friday 6th February 2026, its consolidated financial results (Reviewed) for the year ended 31st December 2025. Financial results included those of Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) and of the Dialog Axiata Group (the “Group”).

Group Performance

The Group delivered a strong performance across Mobile, Fixed Line and Digital Pay Television businesses recording a positive Core Revenue growth of 16% Year to Date (“YTD”). Group Headline Revenue reached Rs179.6Bn, up 5% YTD, despite the continued strategic scaling down of low-margin international wholesale business. In Q4 2025, Revenue was recorded at Rs46.5Bn up 2% Quarter-on-Quarter (“QoQ”) and 2% Year-on-Year (“YoY”).

The Group Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) reached Rs86.0Bn up 30% YTD supported by Core Revenue performance and Cost Rescaling Initiatives. On a QoQ basis Group EBITDA demonstrated a modest growth to record at Rs23.0Bn up 2% QoQ with an EBITDA margin of 49.5% in line with the Revenue performance. Group EBITDA margin reached 47.9% for FY 2025, up 9.2pp.

Group Net Profit After Tax (“NPAT”) reached Rs20.8Bn for FY 2025, up 67% YTD mainly resulting from robust EBITDA growth, despite higher tax and net finance costs. Normalized for forex impact, NPAT growth was recorded at +>100% YTD to reach Rs22.1Bn. On a QoQ basis NPAT grew 3% to reach Rs5.9Bn resulting from strong EBITDA performance.

On the back of strong operational performance, the Group recorded Operating Free Cash Flow (“OFCF”)

of Rs49.3Bn for FY 2025 up >100% YTD.

Dividend Payment to Shareholders

In line with the dividend policy and financial performance of the Group and taking into account the forward investment requirements to serve the nation’s demand for Broadband and Digital services, the Board of Directors of Dialog Axiata PLC at its meeting held on 6th February 2026, resolved to propose for consideration by the Shareholders of the Company, a dividend to ordinary shareholders amounting to Rs1.50 per share. The said dividend, if approved by shareholders, would translate to a Dividend Yield of 5.0% based on share closing price for FY 2025. The dividend so proposed will be considered for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company, the date pertaining to which would be notified in due course.

Company and Subsidiary Performance

At an entity level, Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) continued to be the primary contributor to Group Revenue (76%) and Group EBITDA (74%). Aided by sustained growth in the Data segment and cost-rescaling initiatives, Company revenue was recorded at Rs135.8Bn for FY 2025, up 18% YTD, EBITDA rose 32% YTD to reach Rs63.6Bn. On a QoQ basis, Q4 2025 Revenue was recorded at Rs34.8Bn, down 1% QoQ due to a reclassification of Hubbing Revenue, while EBITDA decline 1% QoQ to record Rs17.0Bn, largely attributable to network restoration costs and donations made in relation to the Cyclone Ditwah relief efforts. Furthermore, NPAT was recorded at Rs15.6Bn for FY 2025, up 41% YTD. Normalised for forex impacts, the company NPAT was up +>100% YTD to reach Rs17.0Bn. On a QoQ basis, Company NPAT was recorded at Rs4.5Bn, down 6% QoQ.

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Ceylinco Life’s Pranama Scholarships reach 25-year milestone

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Sahan Weerasooriya

Ceylinco Life has announced the launch of the 25th consecutive edition of its flagship Pranama Scholarships programme, marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-standing commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence among the children of its policyholders.

Under the 2026 programme, the life insurance market leader will present scholarships with a total cumulative value of Rs. 22.7 million, continuing a rewards initiative that has now been conducted without interruption for a quarter of a century. Since its inception, the Ceylinco Life Pranama Scholarships programme has benefitted 3,466 students across the country, representing a total investment of Rs. 240 million in nurturing academic achievement and outstanding performance in sports, arts and other extracurricular pursuits.

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Sri Lankans’ artistic genius glowingly manifests at Kala Pola ‘26

Published

18 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

The spirit of Sri Lanka as it was ably captured by an artist.

The artistic genius of Sri Lankans was amply manifest all over again at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ which was held on February 8th at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha Colombo 7; the usual, teeming and colourful venue for this annual grand exhibition and celebration of the work of local visual artists.

If there is one thing that has flourished memorably and resplendently in Sri Lanka over the centuries it is the artistic capability or genius of its people. It is something that all Sri Lankans could feel a sense of elation over because from the viewpoint of the arts, Sri Lanka is second to no other nation. With regard to the visual arts a veritable dazzling radiance of this inborn and persisting capability is seen at the annual open air ‘Kala Pola’.

A bird of Sri Lanka created from scraps of iron waste.

All capable visual artists, wherever they hail from in Sri Lanka, enjoy the opportunity of exhibiting their work at the ‘Kala Pola’ and this is a distinctive ‘positive’ of this annual event that draws numberless artists and viewers. There was an abundance of paintings, sketches and sculptures, for instance, and one work was as good as the other. Ample and equal space was afforded each artist. Its widely participatory and open nature enables one to describe the exhibition as exuding a profoundly democratic ethos.

Accordingly, this time around at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ too Sri Lankans’ creative efforts were there to be viewed, studied and enjoyed in the customary carnival atmosphere where connoisseurs, local and foreign, met in a sprit of camaraderie and good cheer. Many thanks are owed once again to the George Keyt Foundation for the presentation of the event in association with the John Keells Group and the John Keells Foundation, not forgetting the Nations Trust Bank, which was the event’s Official Banking Partner. The exhibition was officially declared open by Chief Guest Marc-Andre Franche, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka.

By Lynn Ockersz