John Keells Group partners Education Ministry on Govt.’s School Meal Program

Handover of the approval of the Ministry of Education to the John Keells `Pasal Diriya’ Program. From left: Education Ministry Additional Secretary Y.M.M.S Yapa, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, John Keells Group Chairperson Krishan Balendra, JKH President Property Sector and Focal Point `Pasal Diriya’ Program Nayana Mawilmada and Corporate Social Responsibility Head Carmeline Jayasuriya

As part of the John Keells Group’s commitment to providing solutions to the prevalent food crisis, the John Keells Foundation –the Group’s CSR entity –partnered with the Ministry of Education, on its School Meal Program, to support and expand its implementation. 

Titled ‘Pasal Diriya’, the program will provide nutritious meals on school days to children, through a pilot in 12 selected schools situated in locations of key businesses of the John Keells Group. Supporting businesses of the Group include Ceylon Cold Stores (Elephant House), Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, John Keells Properties and the Group’s Transportation sector. 

The initiative is expected to provide over 3000 meals daily, to children from the 12 selected schools in the Western, Southern and Eastern Provinces and plans to extend it to selected pre-schools by providing meals to over 1000 preschool children in various parts of the country. 

The ‘Pasal Diriya’ Program was launched at a ceremony held in commemoration of National Children’s Day on 3 October at Nuga Gama, Cinnamon Grand Colombo with the participation of Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education (Primary Education and Education Services) Y.M.M.S. Yapa, John Keells Group Chairperson Krishan Balendra, respective Sector Heads, Provincial and Zonal Education Directors and School Principals of the selected schools.    

“The food crisis in Sri Lanka has become a nationwide challenge calling for urgent action from all sectors of society. According to a recent report by UNICEF, Sri Lanka has the 2nd highest malnutrition rate in South Asia, with 7 out of 10 families cutting down their food intake. 

“School children have been severely affected by the crisis. With as many as one million children relying on the free school meals provided by the Government, we have been concerned to note that there has been a significant increase in the number of dropouts after the suspension of the program due to lack of funding. 

“The ‘Pasal Diriya’ program is intended to bridge the gap while building a sustainable model to reduce child malnutrition, ensure higher school attendance and create a positive impact on overall learning. This program is part of the John Keells Group’s multi-pronged crisis response initiative that also includes farmer support, home gardening and scholarship programs,” said JKH Corporate Social Responsibility Head Carmeline Jayasuriya.

In view of the growing economic crisis in Sri Lanka which continues to worsen food security woes, triggered by hyperinflation including high food and fuel prices, the John Keells Group’s response to the food crisis is designed to address the immediate food crisis in the short term and offer viable solutions to manage food security issues in the longer term, whilst addressing critical educational needs of children and youth. T

he ‘Pasal Diriya’ program is modelled to include the provision of funds for the preparation and distribution of meals for students not covered under the existing Government school meal program, to construct or equip a kitchen facility within the school premises where possible and to strengthen the network of the respective schools for the preparation and distribution of meals within the Government’s School Meal Program.

“This unfortunate situation calls for a sustainable mechanism to improve the wellbeing of school going children across the nation. School children of this age require ample nutrition for physical and psychological growth. As such, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, I am thankful for the John Keells Group’s partnership to expand our School Meal Program. At this critical juncture in the country, it is imperative that all parties come together to help our children’s physical and psychological wellbeing,” said Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha. 

The 12 schools selected for the ‘Pasal Diriya’ program include Akkaravissa Primary School (Ambalangoda Education Zone), Bodhi Maluwa Primary School (Elpitiya Education Zone), Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Sinhala Vidyalaya (Colombo Central Education Zone), Holy Rosary Tamil Vidyalaya (Colombo Central Education Zone), Maryam Girls’ College (Colombo Central Education Zone), Ranala Model Junior School (Ranala Education Zone), St. Anthony Balika Maha Vidyalaya (Colombo 03 Education Zone), , St. Joseph’s College, Trincomalee (Trincomalee Education Zone), St. Mary’s Balika Vidyalaya (Colombo 03 Education Zone), Siri Sariputta Maha Vidyalaya (Colombo Central Education Zone), St. Sebastian’s College, Sea Street (Negombo Education Zone) and T.B. Jayah Zahira College (Colombo Central Education Zone).