News
Health Ministry takes lead in cutting down salt by ordering all its canteens not to add it to rice
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.
Police and armed forces personnel will be deployed at all churches today as the sixth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks is marked.Police stations have been instructed to provide special security to churches in their areas and seek assistance from the STF and tri-forces where additional manpower is needed.
Security arrangements have been made under the direction of Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya.
Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuiyakontha convened a special meeting on Thursday, instructing the Commanders of the Tri-Forces to implement a comprehensive security plan to safeguard worshippers attending Easter Sunday services.
He further directed that the measures be taken in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Security to ensure effective implementation and to allow Christians to attend services without fear or inconvenience.The main commemoration service is set to begin with a procession from St. Lucia’s Cathedral at 7:00 a.m., with participation from Catholics
in nearby parishes—particularly from Colombo Central, Colombo North, Wattala, and Ragama—as well as brothers from junior and national seminaries, priests, and religious leaders. Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is expected to conduct the prayer service, which is scheduled to begin at 8:40 a.m.
A separate commemoration will also take place at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, in two sessions—one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 4:30 p.m.
By Norman Palihawadane
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka says that ascertaining who the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 were and those who have aided and abetted in the dastardly act, is a matter of urgency.
In its special message for Easter the conference says: “This Easter also marks the sixth anniversary of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on innocent worshipers at Catholic and other Christian Churches and in other places in 2019, causing death and injuries to hundreds of people. In this regard, we observe that certain positive steps have been taken by the present government to ensure an independent and impartial inquiry into this brutal attack.
While we appreciate the efforts made so far, we insist that as a matter of urgency and justice, the final aim of the inquiries should be to ascertain who the perpetrators are and those who have aided and abetted in the dastardly act.
We shall continue to pray earnestly for wisdom and courage for the leaders of our country, as well as solace and healing for the victims,” the message signed by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka, Bishop Harold Anthony Perera and Secretary General Bishop Anthony Jayakody said.
A new bill has been drafted to abolish the controversial Online Safety law passed by the previous government.
A gazette notification, announcing “Bill to Repeal the Online Safety Act No. 09 of 2024”, has been issued.
The bill has been presented as a Private Member’s Bill by MP Ravi Karunanayake.
By Akitha Perera
Sixth anniversary of Easter Sunday carnage: Special security provided to churches
Easter Sunday carnage: Catholic Bishops’ Conference renews call for justice
Bill to abolish Online Safety law gazetted
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