Payment delays halt mid-day meal to school children

The programme to provide mid-day meals to schoolchildren was forced to be halted due to delays in payment to suppliers in February and March this year, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said yesterday (26).

Accordingly, the programme has been halted islandwide, except in the Western Province. There is an outstanding payment of Rs 875 million for these two months due to suppliers.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Although, Rs 16.6 billion was allocated for this programme in Budget 2023, payments have been delayed due to the economic crisis.

Dissanayake queried as to what the reason was to halt the programme, Island wide.

Premajayantha responding said steps would be taken to settle the dues within the next two to three weeks, utilising World Bank funds.