Jounior Observer | Sunday Observer.lk

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena last week announced Sri Lanka’s first ‘National Nutrition Policy’ which was formulated for the benefit of over 30 per cent malnourished schoolchildren in the country and the needy adult population.

The policy formulated by the Health Ministry was launched at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute to coincide with the National Nutrition Month held in hospitals countrywide this month.

Speaking to Junior Observer, Minister Sirisena highlighted the importance of creating a healthy society in the country and said that his Ministry has accepted the task of upgrading the nutrition levels of the people of the nation.

“Nutrition is one of the key areas that needs to be improved in the country’s health sector when it comes to achieving Millennium Development Goals,” he said.

The Minister said only a small percentage of people including the younger generation of the country needed nutrients and it is the duty of the Government to help them.

He said that the National Nutrition Policy will benefit a large number of children under five years of age in the Northern District too and steps will be taken to extend the programme to those areas as well.

According to the programme, conducted by the Ministry’s Family Health Bureau, Ministry officials recently distributed a large stock of Multiple Micro Nutrients to children in selected districts in the North.

The nutrients were given after rounds of medical checkups carried out by health officials on children who suffer from long-term malnutrition.

The Minister also directed his officials to distribute vitamins and various other medicines to pregnant mothers.

While thanking the UNICEF and the World Food Programme for the assistance granted towards the programme, Minister Sirisena said that deficiency of vitamins reduced the immunity of the human body and such persons become vulnerable to various communicable diseases such as diarrhoea.

The unique geological formation called Ussangoda located in Hambantota was declared as the 21st National Park of Sri Lanka by the Wildlife Conservation Department (WCD) in early June.

Ussangoda has many features that makes it a location suitable to be declared a national park. Apart from the unique red earth and short vegetation that spreads over the plateau, it is a pre-historic site too.

According to official sources, several archaeological remains have been discovered in the area.

The area which is also a breeding ground for turtles is 349,077 hectares in extent and is adjacent to the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary. Ussangoda is also believed to be the legendary landing place of Ravana, the Hindu mythological king who piloted a special peacock chariot across the skies

The report on national policy framework on Higher Education and vocational education was handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by National Education

The Commission through this report has forwarded a set of proposals on how the higher education and vocational education policy should be formulated to suit the present situation.

This policy framework was prepared by the Commission based on the extensive dialogue with the members of the academia and the opinions of various stakeholders.

The policy on higher education consists of three main segments. The Commission has forwarded 102 recommendations to uphold the quality, recognition and appraisal of the higher education and vocational education sector.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Allahapperuma were among those present.

Bhanuka Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

Royal College skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa was adjudged the Sunday Observer -Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year at the 32nd annual awards ceremony held at the BMICH in Colombo on June 14. Here he is receiving the award from the chief guest Mass Media and Communication Minister ,Keheliya Rambukwella . ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara, Sri Lanka Telekom Chief Executive Officer Greg Young and Sunday Observer Editor Dinesh Weerawansa are also in the picture.
Pic Saman Sri Wedage