A parliamentary committee investigating child malnutrition has revealed alarming findings: nearly 16,000 children across the country are suffering from acute malnutrition.
The committee, chaired by MP Rohini Kaviratne, further highlighted that around 25% of families are relying on help from neighbors to meet their basic food needs. The percentage of families facing food insecurity has surged to 24% by the third quarter of 2023.
In response to rising costs, one-third of households have either reduced the frequency of cooking or cut back on their food consumption.
The committee’s report also indicates a troubling increase in the number of underweight and stunted children compared to 2022. In the Nuwara Eliya district, 24.6% of children are now classified as underweight and stunted, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
