Business

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

Published

3 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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Sri Lanka secures 10% US tariff rate: JAAF thanks the President and government for decisive action

Published

20 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Today’s announcement by USTR of the finality of the Section 301 investigations into countries’ ability to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour sees 18 countries placed on a 10% tariff, with the balance of 42 countries facing a 12.5% tariff.

Initial indications were that Sri Lanka would fall into the 12.5% category, a position that would have placed the country at a real disadvantage against a number of key competitor nations.

Following Sri Lanka’s submissions to the USTR earlier this month, JAAF is pleased to see that Sri Lanka is now among the countries placed on the 10% tariff rate, on par with competitors including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia.

Sri Lanka’s apparel industry competes in a crowded field, and even a 2.5 percentage point difference in tariff treatment can be the difference between winning and losing an order to a rival sourcing destination. Securing parity with Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia protects the competitiveness of an industry that remains the country’s largest export earner and a major source of employment, particularly for women, across the country.

JAAF recognises that this result did not happen by chance. It reflects sustained, coordinated engagement between industry and government at every level, from the submissions made to USTR to the direct representations carried out in Washington. We view this as a strong example of what can be achieved when the private sector and government work in close partnership on issues that directly affect Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness.

We remain committed to continuing this collaboration, both to safeguard the gains secured on Thursday and to ensure Sri Lanka’s apparel and textile industry is well positioned to compete on a level playing field internationally.

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CAHM students shine at National Bartenders Competition and Dainties 2026

Published

20 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Students of the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) at SLIIT once again demonstrated their talent, creativity, and professional excellence by securing outstanding achievements at two prestigious national hospitality competitions held recently in Sri Lanka.

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) is Sri Lanka’s leading private hospitality education institute, established in 2013 and located at the SLIIT Main Campus in Malabe. Renowned for delivering internationally recognised qualifications in partnership with the William Angliss Institute (RTO 3045), Australia—the Australian Government’s specialist hospitality education institute and the country’s leading provider of hospitality, tourism, foods and events education—CAHM offers Australian-standard vocational qualifications that combine international best practices with hands-on practical training and strong industry relevance, enabling graduates to pursue rewarding careers around the world.

At the 31st National Bartenders Competition (NBC), organized by the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association (SLHGA) in partnership with International Distillers Limited (IDL), CAHM student Anurasi Chandrasoma (Commercial Cookery Batch 22) emerged as the Winner in the highly competitive Hotel School Category. The competition, held on 26 May 2026 at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (SLITHM), Colombo, attracted more than 75 participants from hospitality education institutions across the country.

Representing CAHM alongside the winner were Dishala Gunawardhana (Hospitality Management Batch 37), Sunera Sathindu (Commercial Cookery Batch 21), and Devindu Amarasekara (Patisserie Batch 11), all of whom showcased exceptional bartending skills and professionalism. The achievement marks another significant milestone for CAHM, reinforcing its reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s leading hospitality education institutions.

Business

Asia-Pacific business leaders to convene in Sri Lanka for UN Global Compact’s flagship regional event

Published

20 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Asia-Pacific stands at the forefront of one of the defining transitions of our time. Home to many of the world’s fastest-growing economies, the region is also confronting some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to widening inequalities, geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological transformation. As these challenges reshape the global business landscape, businesses are increasingly being called upon not only to respond, but to lead.

Against this backdrop, Sri Lanka will host Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026: Driving Business Leadership for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, the United Nations Global Compact’s flagship regional event for Asia-Pacific. Bringing together more than 200 business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers, representatives from the United Nations and UN Global Compact Country Networks from across the region, the two-day event will provide a platform to strengthen partnerships, exchange practical solutions and mobilize business leadership in support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Led by the UN Global Compact Asia-Pacific Regional Hub and hosted in collaboration with UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, the regional event reflects a shared commitment to advancing responsible business and strengthening regional collaboration at a time when sustainable development depends on collective leadership and cross-sector cooperation.

The event will welcome Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General, CEO & Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, whose presence spotlights the strategic importance of the Asia-Pacific region within the United Nations Global Compact. Her first official visit to Sri Lanka signals the growing role of the region in driving responsible business and sustainable development, while offering participating companies a unique opportunity to engage with global leadership, showcase their sustainability journeys, and help shape the next chapter of collective action towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Alongside Sanda Ojiambo, the Forum will also convene more than 60 global and regional leaders from business, the United Nations and civil society, including Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company and Chairman of UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, and Sandra Wu, ESG Executive Adviser at Mirait One Corporation, fostering dialogue and collaboration to accelerate business leadership for sustainable and inclusive growth across Asia-Pacific.

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 also marks an important milestone in advancing the United Nations Global Compact’s 2026–2030 Strategy, which places renewed emphasis on equipping businesses with the knowledge, tools and partnerships needed to accelerate sustainable business transformation, catalyzing collaboration to address shared global challenges, and advancing responsible business leadership as a cornerstone of sustainable development. As one of the first flagship regional events aligned with this strategic direction, the event will help translate global ambition into regional action by connecting leaders, sharing practical experience and fostering the partnerships needed to create lasting impact.

Register Your Interest

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 11–12 August 2026.

To register your interest or learn more about the event, please contact:

Chamath Kalupahana

Country Focal Point – Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026

Manager – Participant Engagement & Strategic Planning

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka

Email: chamath@unglobalcompact.org.lk