Kurunegala schools' canteens under scrutiny

by S. M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Cor.

The Health and Nutrition Unit of the Ministry of Education has launched an investigation on government schools canteens islandwide, to check whether students are provided with wholesome and hygienic eatables, according to instructions Circular No. 2011/03 by the Ministry of Education.

Among 9600 National and Provincial level schools in the country, 2,000 school canteens have already been inspected by officials of the Ministry.

School Principals are responsible for the good health of their students and hence they should inspect the canteens regularly to see whether unhygienic junk food items were being sold," said B. M. Balasooriya, Director of Education speaking at a conference of school Principals of the Kurunegala district held in Bingiriya. Tenders of school canteens could be cancelled and legal measures taken against the canteen owners if they have violated the rules and regulations of the circulars issued by the Ministry of Education, Balasooriya said.