Sri Lanka has introduced a nationwide ban on junk food in schools as part of a major public health initiative to combat the growing rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other non-communicable diseases. Effective from June 2026, the new education ministry guidelines prohibit schools from selling or serving foods and beverages high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, affecting nearly 4 million students across the country.
Under the new policy, popular items such as burgers, hot dogs, pizzas, doughnuts, ice cream, biscuits, pastries, deep-fried snacks, flavoured milk, energy drinks, and even sugary condiments like tomato sauce have been removed from school menus. Schools are also banned from allowing unhealthy food brands to sponsor school events, reinforcing the government’s commitment to promoting healthier eating habits among children.
Instead, schools have been instructed to provide nutritious meals featuring rice, fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, natural fruit juices, fresh milk, and beverages with minimal added sugar. The Ministry of Education has also released detailed healthy meal recipes using locally available ingredients to help schools implement the new standards.
The decision comes amid growing concern over children’s health in Sri Lanka. Government data shows that 12% of children aged 13–17 are overweight, while 3% are obese, raising fears of increasing cases of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Although childhood malnutrition remains a challenge—particularly among low-income families, with UNICEF reporting that 17% of children under five suffer from stunting—health authorities say the country now faces the dual burden of undernutrition and unhealthy weight gain.
