Sri Lanka health ministry bans junk food in school canteens

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health has issued a circular that prohibits the sale of high‑sugar, high‑fat, highly processed and ultra‑processed foods in school canteens nationwide. The guideline targets items such as sugary drinks, confectionery, fried snacks and packaged junk food, aiming to curb rising childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

The directive, endorsed by Dr. Monika Wijeratne, Director of the Nutrition Unit, calls for school administrators and canteen operators in both government and private schools to replace prohibited items with healthier alternatives. Implementation will be coordinated with education authorities, though specific enforcement mechanisms and penalties have not yet been detailed. The move has been welcomed by parents, health professionals and nutrition advocates who hope it will improve long‑term dietary habits of students.