Connect with us

News

MRI’s Nutrition Department Head says country still can reduce severity of malnutrition

Published

on

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Sri Lanka is still in a position to prevent malnutrition becoming a serious problem, Head of the Department of Nutrition at the Colombo Medical Research Institute Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, told the media yesterday.Addressing the media at the Institute in Colombo, she said that the nutrition level among children had improved in 2021.

“We have the 2021 data and according to the data there was a drop in malnutrition among children. They were home during COVID-19, and things actually improved. Things however have changed since then due to the serious economic downturn,” she said.Dr. Jayatissa said that there were reports that many children’s hospitals were underweight. She said that there was a difference between being underweight and malnutrition.

“Children can get malnourished if they do not receive adequate nutrition for a long time. In the next three months, we can identify what’s going on and take action. We can stop malnutrition from becoming a problem,” she said.

Dr. Jayatissa said 14% of Sri Lankan households were poor and the children in these families were vulnerable to malnutrition. “Children from other families are not that vulnerable and we can take steps to ensure children are adequately fed.

“We can give the families money or a food basket,” she said.

There is also regional variability, she said. For example, the Nuwara Eliya District reports the highest rate of undernutrition indicated by very severe levels of stunting and underweight in children less than five years of age.Most children admitted to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) since the beginning of the COVID pandemic are underweight, Dr. Deepal Perera said earlier this week.

Dr. Perera said they had started a survey on the matter. “This can be a problem of finance. However, this can also be ignorance about nutrition among some parents. We need to understand what’s happening and take immediate steps. When children do not receive adequate nutrition in their formative years, many problems can occur later in life,” he said.



Latest News

South Korea MPs vote to impeach president after mass protests over martial law

Published

on

By

South Korean MPs have voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol as thousands of protesters on the streets of Seoul cheer the result

A total of 204 MPs approved the motion to impeach Yoon, who plunged the country into political turmoil with a short-lived martial law declaration last week

Yoon will be suspended while the prime minister will serve as acting president. The constitutional court now has six months to rule on the impeachment.Yoon survived an impeachment vote last weekend and has clung to power, despite mounting calls for him to step down He and  and his allies are currently under investigation for insurrection charges, and a travel ban has been slapped on several of them

(BBC)

Continue Reading

News

Indian High Commissioner meets PM

Published

on

By

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, called on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday [13].

The meeting underscored the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between the two neighboring nations and discussions centered on the progress of numerous bilateral projects, which are currently at various stages of development.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Continue Reading

News

Govt. buckles under pressure: Speaker Ranwala resigns

Published

on

Asoka Sapumal Ranwala

Asoka Sapumal Ranwala resigned as Speaker of Parliament yesterday amidst a controversy over his educational qualifications. The Opposition challenged him to prove his claim that he had a doctorate.

Ranwala has said in a statement that he never misrepresented his educational qualifications but he currently lacks documentary evidence to prove his academic credentials. He insists that he was awarded a doctorate by a research institute affiliated with Waseda University in Japan and has expressed hope of presenting the degree certificate in the future.

“However, given the confusion surrounding this issue and to avoid causing embarrassment to those who trusted and voted for this government, I have decided to resign from the position of Speaker for the time being,” Ranwala has said in his statement.

His resignation followed indications that MPs from the JVP/NPP government were preparing to make a significant decision on a no-confidence motion against him, centred on the legitimacy of his academic qualifications. The motion was prompted by ongoing doubts about the authenticity of his doctoral degree, particularly in the absence of clarification.

Sources within the NPP confirmed earlier on Friday that Ranwala was expected to address the controversy with a special statement when Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday (17). However, he announced his resignation yesterday evening (13).

Kalutara District SJB MP Ajith P. Perera told the media on Thursday that either the Speaker or the JVP/NPP government must clarify the matter regarding Ranwala’s doctorate. He asserted that if the Speaker genuinely holds a valid doctorate, there would be no issue. However, the lack of response to media inquiries and the removal of degree-related information from the parliamentary website raised further concerns.

Perera added that the Speaker should provide evidence of his qualifications within two weeks, failing which the Opposition would proceed with the no-confidence motion. He also suggested that the JVP/NPP MPs would face public scrutiny in their decision to either support or oppose the motion, testing their commitment to party lines against public expectations.

The National Democratic Front (NDF), led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, proposed the establishment of a parliamentary committee to verify the academic qualifications of all MPs, including the Speaker and Cabinet Ministers. This initiative seeks to address increasing concerns about the credibility of MPs’ qualifications.

Meanwhile, the SLPP announced its intention to introduce a separate no-confidence motion against Ranwala. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, Hambantota District MP D.V. Chanaka criticised the Speaker, arguing that the issue undermines public confidence in Parliament. Chanaka further highlighted the Speaker’s responsibility as head of the Parliamentary Council and the Committee on High Offices, which oversees the verification of qualifications for key positions.

SLPP Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam also addressed the press, emphasising the importance of the Speaker’s academic qualifications in upholding the integrity of Parliament.

Continue Reading

Trending