News
US provides food for 110,000 primary schoolchildren
Mother of a student receiving a food pack from the US Embassy
…those not included in GoSL school meal programme benefit
The US Embassy says a section of 110,000 students of 887 primary schools in eight districts have been provided with food.
According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Colombo, Badulla, Kilinochchi, Moneragala, Mullaitivu, Nuwara-Eliya, Ratnapura, and Trincomalee would benefit from this project. They’ll receive five kilograms of yellow split peas and five tins of pink salmon between June and September 2021.
These emergency take-home rations are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $26 million McGovern-Dole project in Sri Lanka that assists food-insecure, school-aged children and their families through the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities and technical assistance, the Embassy said.
“These protein-rich foods will provide important nutrition to children while they’re out of school and unable to receive meals through the Government of Sri Lanka’s school meal programme,” said U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz. “The American people are committed to the health and well-being of Sri Lankan children and I’m proud we can help Sri Lankan families overcome food insecurity issues.”
The Embassy stated: “Implemented in Sri Lanka in collaboration with Save the Children and the Government of Sri Lanka, the Promoting Autonomy for Literacy and Attentiveness through Market Alliances (PALAM/A) Project helps boost school enrollment, increase attendance, and improve reading outcomes and literacy results by providing nutritious school meals and take-home rations, teacher training, and related education, nutrition, and health support. In 2020, the Government of Sri Lanka and USDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding that committed the full support of the Sri Lankan government for the implementation of this project. The Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and Save the Children designed the project together to support Government of Sri Lanka efforts to promote children’s learning, nutrition, and good health. Three national ministries, provincial governments, and district authorities provided their fullest support to facilitate the distribution of take-home rations.”
BBC reported that at least 17 people have been killed in an explosion at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
The blast happened when the mosque was packed with worshippers and more than 90 people were injured.
A section of the building was destroyed, and officials say people are buried under the rubble. Several others are being taken to local hospitals.
The cause of the explosion is unclear.
BBC reported that residents in flood-hit northern New Zealand are bracing for more heavy rains as officials issued severe weather alerts.
At least four people have died and a state of emergency was declared in Auckland, which on Friday experienced its worst downpour on record.
by Priyan de Silva
Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Nimal Punchihewa, asked to comment on a special news release, purportedly issued by the Director General of the Department of Government Information, on Sunday (29), told The Island that preparations for the 09 March local government elections were going ahead, as planned, and that the media statement at issue was misleading.
The media statement says: “The gazette notice with signatures of the Chairman and other members of the Election Commission required for the commencement of the Local Government election process has not been sent to the Government Press for printing.”
Punchihewa requested the public not to be misled by any misinformation being spread in an attempt to create doubts in their minds.He also reiterated that the EC would not be deterred by any acts of intimidation.
Three of the EC members have been threatened with death by an unidentified caller to resign from their posts. They are S. B. Divaratne, M. M. Mohamed and K. P. P. Pathirana. The Opposition has accused the government of trying to sabotage the LG polls.
At least 17 killed after explosion in Peshawar mosque
More heavy rain ahead for New Zealand’s largest city
Very heavy showers (150mm) likely in Northern, Eastern, Uva, North Central and Central Provinces
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