Commemoration of World Food Day – 16th October 2022
The World Food Day which fell on 16th October 2022 added significance to Sri Lanka this year as it faces an acute food crisis. The World Food Progrmmme has said that 6.3 million people or over 30 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population are “food insecure”and require humanitarian assistance. In the meantime the United Nations has issued an international appeal to help Sri Lanka overcome the present food crisis.
By the end of September 2022, the UN’s US$ 47.2 million joint Humanitarian Plan for Sri Lanka had reached more than one million people out of a total target of 1.7 million highly vulnerable people with assistance covering food security, agriculture, nutrition, water, protection and health (as per a news report).
It is therefore appropriate that Caritas SED Galle has implemented three separate Programmes at district level (Galle, Matara and Hambantota) on different days to commemorate World Food Day Celebrations with the assistance of Caritas Sri Lanka.
The detailed report is appended for information please.
Programme at Matara
Venue: Sri Mahendrarama Buddhist Temple, Mirisa, Weligama
Date: 18th October 2022
Participants: (Around 150)
Mahendrarama Buddhist Temple)
to the Department of Ayurveda at Weligama
The main goal of this programme was to provide awarensss to CBO Leaders, CBO members, farmers, children and their parents the importance of using local nutritious food without poison from pre-school stage to future generation. This programme was implemented in a proper manner with the support of Community Medical Officers. This programme was organized by Caritas SED Galle with the support og office bearers of “Sithamu” Women Agricultural Society.
Fr Lasantha Fonseka in his welcome address thanked Divisional Secretary, Community Medical Officers, Deputy Principal of Sri Indrasara Maha Vidyalaya, CBO leaders, all Government officials including Agricultural Instructor, Agric. Dev & Res. Assistants and Development Officers and others participating in this programme commemorating the World Food Day. He said that in today’s context, we all should change to locally nutritious food replacing instant foods like pizza, kottu etc.
The Divisional Secretary who spoke thereafter that due to the present economic situation in the country we have to give more emphasis on nutrition especially parents should be well aware of what they give to their children, the high priced foods do not contain nutrition but harmful to their health. She said that Ayurvedic Physicians who are here today will show how to prepare nutritious foods using locally grown vegetables and explain the importance of maintaining home gardens in their houses which supply them locally nutritious foods.
The Community Medical Officer did a video presentation explaining the concept of local foods, its promotion, and the importance of giving nutritious foods to their children. She explained the disadvantages of eating foods made out of wheat flour, how parents should avoid giving instant food (like pizza, kottu rotti etc) to their children which contain various coloring, ,preservatives and other additives . These junk food which are harmful to their health lead to various ailments like diabetes, blood pressure. That is what 50% of people suffer from diabetes and blood pressure and other various ailments. She explained the reasons why today’s children are underweight, stunted, or wasted. Each and every one should check their blood pressure regularly. It should be less than 100-120/80 mmHG. We should avoid flour-based foods and eat more fibre -rich food. High fibre food does not digest immediately but take long to break down and therefore you do not feel hungry for over 4 hours. The best time to take food are (Morning 6.00 – 8.00 AM, Lunch 12.00 to 2.00 PM and Dinner 6.00 to 8.00 PM). She also explained the value of maintaining a home garden in your household.
Value of Home Gardening
She also explained the nutritional value of locally grown fruits in Sri Lanka.
Preparation of Hath Maluwa
Thereafter, the parents prepared a Hath Maluwa – the Seven Vegetable Curry (a traditional Sri Lanka dish) under the guidance of Medical Officers. The term Maluwa means 'curry' in Sinhala and Hath refers to 'seven' that eventually stands for seven vegetables used in making this dish. Various food items
were used to give different flavors (such as 1. Hodda (Gravy cooked with spices like cumin seeds, coriander & pepper without coconut milk)2. Curry with sour taste (ambarella (golden apple/jew plums) 3, Malluma (chopped Mugunuwenna leaves) 4. Deep fry (sprats, drumstick leaves, turkey berry fried )
5. Niyambalawa (Curry made with Ash Gourds) 6. Meat curry –Dada mas (Instead of meat, a curry was made with Mushrooms) 7. Diya mas (a curry was made with lotus roots).
All what were prepared were distributed among pre-school children, their parents and all participants to taste. Proper hygienic methods were followed while preparing these meals under
the guidance of Community Medical Officers.
The Programme at Galle
Venue: Magedera Junior & Senior Schools
Date : 20th October 2022
Participants: (Around 200)
After the welcome address by Fr Lasantha Fonseka, Director of Caritas SED Galle, an awareness programme on nutrition was conducted by Dr Kodagoda (Supervising Community Medical Officer).
He explained how children in today’s context suffer from malnutrition due to economic crisis. They need nutritious food. He emphasized the importance of changing to local food instead of instant junk foods which contain coloring, preservatives and additives which are harmful to health. He did a video presentation on how to make a nutritious food using local food such as vegetables, leaves and legumes, on how you fall sick after consuming poisonous foods, various food coloring and artificial additives used in instant foods, awareness in weaknesses related to nutrition.
It was practically demonstrated on how to prepare a nutritious rice using locally grown raw materials such as papaw in place of carrot, drumstick in place of leeks, tender jacks in place of fish/meat. He also showed them practically how to prepare a porridge using local nutritious leaves.
CBO members also had set up sales outlets where they sold packed sausages made out of mushrooms, sausages made out of tender jacks, rolls made out of various yams), fresh vegetables, leaves and fruits.
All what were prepared were distributed among pre-school children, their parents and all participants to taste. Proper hygienic methods were followed while preparing these meals under the guidance of Community Medical Officers.
The Programme at Hambantota
Venue: Welangahawela Wijaya Junior School, Barawakumbuka
Date : 21st October 2022
Participants: (Around 290)
1. Fr Lasantha Foseka , Director (Caritas SED Galle)
2. Community Medical Officer (Dr Chinthaka & Dr Champa Priyangani)
4. Public Health Inspector
5. Agricultural Instructor
6. Agricultural Development & Research Officers
7. Development Officers
8. Zonal Education Officer
8. Grama Sewa Niladhari (Welangahawela)
8. CBO Leaders and CBO Members
9. Teachers and School Children of Welangahawela Wijaya Junior School
10. Parents of school children and Pre-school children
12. Caritas SED Galle staff
13. Villagers
After the welcome address by Fr Lasantha Fonseka, Director of Caritas SED Galle, an awareness programme on nutrition was conducted by Community Medical Officers attached to the Department of Ayurveda.
They said that most of the children and pregnant mothers in Sri Lanka suffer from malnutrition
due to the present economic crisis. They explained the importance of changing to local food instead of instant junk foods which contain coloring, preservatives and additives which are harmful to health. He did a video presentation on how to make a nutritious food using local food such as vegetables, leaves and legumes, on how you fall sick after consuming poisonous foods, various food coloring and artificial additives used in instant foods, awareness in weaknesses related to nutrition.
Preparation of Hath Maluwa
Thereafter, the parents prepared a Hath Maluwa – the Seven Vegetable Curry (a traditional Sri Lanka dish) under the guidance of Community Medical Officers. The term Maluwa means 'curry' in Sinhala and Hath refers to 'seven' that eventually stands for seven vegetables used in making this dish. Various food items were used to give different flavors such as 1. Rasam ( Rasam is a spicy soup prepared with cumin seeds, fennel seeds, tamarind, red onions, salt etc) ) 2. Deep fry (sprats, B onions, katurumurunga leaves etc fried with various spices ) 3. Curry with sour taste (ambarella (golden apple/jew plums) 4. Malluma (chopped Mugunuwenna leaves 5. Niyambalawa (Curry made with kesel bada –banana stem and papaw with other spices) 6. Meat curry –Dada mas (Instead of meat, a curry was made with Mushrooms) 7. Diya mas (a curry was made with fish ).
All what were prepared were distributed among pre-school children, their parents and all participants to taste. Proper hygienic methods were followed while preparing these meals under
the guidance of Community Medical Officers.
We have also launched Food Banks at Magedera Primary School and Junior Schools and Welangahawela Wijaya Junior School, Barawakumbuka.