Sri Lanka bans fast food in schools to curb rising child obesity and diabetes

Sri Lanka began enforcing a ban on fast food and sweets in schools on Tuesday to tackle rising diabetes and heart disease among children. The ban covers hot dogs, burgers, pizza, doughnuts, ice cream, biscuits, flavoured milk, energy drinks, pastries, deep‑fried snacks and condiments such as tomato sauce for the country’s four million students. School managers are urged to serve rice, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, natural fruit juice, fresh milk and tea or coffee with only small amounts of sugar, and to bar advertisers of ‘unhealthy food’ from sponsoring events. Officials say 12% of schoolchildren aged 13‑17 were overweight and another 3% were obese in 2024, though reliable data on juvenile diabetes, cancer or heart disease are lacking; they cite anecdotal evidence of rising numbers. The move reflects a growing global concern over diet‑related non‑communicable diseases, a trend also seen in many low‑ and middle‑income countries facing a double burden of malnutrition.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/23/sri-lanka-bans-junk-food-in-schools-due-to-health-concerns/