Morning Nutrition launch in Mannar, Sri Lanka
Annapoorna Morning Nutrition Programme was launched on September 12, 2023, by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, the founder of Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, at Mannar town in Sri Lanka. Nearly 200 children from 3 government schools are provided with morning nutrition.
The Morning Nutrition Programme has served over 500 million meals to 3 million school children across 23 states and 5 union territories in India, and has its reach in Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Nigeria. Mannar town is a main town of Mannar district in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Famous for baobab trees, fishing, and farming as the major occupations of people here, this land is rich in its cultural heritage and history.
The launch event was graced by the revered head pontiff, Srilasree Masilamani Desika Gnanasambandha Swami.
Mr. Vidura Wickremanayake – the honourable Minister of Buddhashasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, attended as a government representative to support the initiative.
Also present was Mr. Gowri Shankar – Director of G&G Group of Companies, Singapore and Hatton Plantations PLC, Sri Lanka.
Sri Rakesh Natraj Jayabhaskaran – the Consul General of India in Jaffna, Sri Lanka was present in the eventful gathering.
Mr. Anand K. Kadali – Secretary and Trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, addressed the gathering and emphasized the importance of the 3-S working model of the Trust, the Sarkara (government), Sanstha (organizations and institutions) and Samaja (society and individuals at large) working together for tackling vexing problems of the society. He also stated that the Trust is currently assessing further expansion of the programme to neighbouring schools in the region.
Morning Nutrition has shown several positive effects on children. It improves health parameters, builds immunity, increases metabolism, enhances memory, energises the body and mind. Thus, the child with good health starts attending school regularly and results have shown that they arrive on time, and have shown improved focus and thus, better academic performance. Setting a child on the path of healthy daily nutrition is our collective responsibility. Let us stop not until no child goes to school hungry, ever!
