The Ministry of Education will allocate Rs.2.8 billion to provide free mid-day meals for schoolchildren, Education Ministry sources said.

The Ministry will provide free lunch to 1.1 million students in 7,600 selected schools islandwide, with the aim of creating a healthy and active future generation. The Ministry spent Rs. 2.3 billion for the programme last year. The allocation for this year has been increased by Rs. 500 million, Ministry sources said.

Ministry sources disclosed that the 7600 Schools selected for this year's food programme include schools with less than 100 students. Accordingly, students in such schools as well as students in grades One to Five in all other schools will be entitled to the free mid-day meal this year. Many schools selected this time have already begun to provide mid-day meals to schoolchildren, according to the Ministry circulation.

RJ