Sri Lanka has begun enforcing a nationwide ban on fast food, sugary snacks and other unhealthy food items in schools as part of efforts to curb rising cases of obesity, diabetes and heart disease among children.
Gatekeepers News reports that the new regulations, which took effect on Tuesday, follow guidelines issued by the country’s Education Ministry aimed at promoting healthier eating habits among students.
While a significant portion of Sri Lanka’s population continues to struggle with poverty and food insecurity, authorities say the country is increasingly facing another public health challenge — a growing number of overweight and obese children.
Public health inspectors confirmed that schools have started implementing the new rules, which prohibit the sale or provision of foods and drinks containing high levels of sugar, salt and fat.
Under the ban, items such as hot dogs, burgers, pizzas, doughnuts, ice cream, biscuits, flavoured milk, energy drinks, pastries, deep-fried snacks and even condiments like tomato sauce are no longer permitted in schools serving the nation’s four million students.
“Poor eating habits among children directly contribute to the increase in nutritional problems and, later, to the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” the ministry said in a statement issued on Monday.
Although Sri Lanka lacks comprehensive data on childhood diabetes, cancer and heart disease, health authorities say anecdotal evidence suggests such conditions are becoming more common among young people.
Government statistics show that as of 2024, about 12 percent of children aged between 13 and 17 were overweight, while an additional three percent were classified as obese.
The ministry has advised schools to encourage students to consume healthier alternatives, including rice, fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, fresh milk, natural fruit juices and tea or coffee with minimal sugar.
To support the initiative, officials also released recipes for what they described as “healthy and highly nutritious” meals prepared using locally available ingredients.
In addition, schools are barred from allowing companies that market “unhealthy food” to sponsor school events, according to a 122-page guideline document obtained by AFP.
The move comes as Sri Lanka continues to battle broader nutrition challenges. According to UNICEF, about 17 percent of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition.
The World Bank estimates that roughly one-quarter of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people lived below the poverty line in 2024, though that figure is expected to decline to around one-fifth of the population this year.
