12% of school students are overweight and 3% are obese.

Recent survey data has revealed that a significant number of school children in this country are facing nutritional problems, including obesity. According to Dr. Monika Wijeratne, Director of the Nutrition Division of the Ministry of Health, the 2024 Global School-based Student Health Survey confirmed that 12% of children aged 13 to 17 are overweight, and 3% are obese.

Furthermore, according to 2021 data, 47.6% of Sri Lankan women and 30% of men have been identified as overweight.

These health issues are primarily caused by children's unhealthy eating habits. According to survey data, 28.5% of children are accustomed to consuming high-salt foods daily, 29% high-oil foods, and 14% high-sugar foods. With the aim of controlling the rapidly spreading obesity and non-communicable diseases among children, the Ministries of Health and Education have jointly planned a new program. Accordingly, it was revealed at a press conference held at the Health Promotion Bureau that arrangements have been made to implement a new program titled 'Healthy School Canteen Guidelines' at the national level.

Mr. P. Sudarshana Peiris, Deputy Director of the Health and Nutrition Branch of the Ministry of Education, stated that these guidelines are being introduced targeting nearly 3.9 million students studying in 10,046 schools across the island. A new circular signed by the Secretary of Education has been issued in this regard, which is scheduled to come into effect from 2026. This circular clearly outlines food recipes that can be sold and those that are prohibited from being sold in school canteens, under two main categories.

Under the new guidelines, nutritious and clean food will be provided to schoolchildren, healthy eating habits will be promoted, and the sale of unhealthy foods within school premises or canteens will be completely prohibited. Furthermore, steps will be taken to grade school canteens as A, B, and C according to prescribed standards, blacklist canteen owners who do not comply with these standards, and introduce new child-friendly food recipes. Coinciding with June, which is considered the National Nutrition Month, these new guidelines are scheduled to be officially launched on the upcoming 22nd at the Colombo Medical Faculty Auditorium, under the patronage of the Minister of Health and the secretaries of the relevant ministries.