The Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development stated that discussions are underway to assess the feasibility of either fully banning or regulating fast foods considered harmful to health.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (3), Deputy subject Minister R.M. Jayawardhana said that despite Sri Lanka having access to naturally nutritious food due to its climate and traditional farming methods, there has been a noticeable increase in the consumption of unhealthy or low-nutrition food. Attributing the issue to poor eating habits, he said: “Children are becoming addicted to fast food. At the same time, many Government officials and private sector workers skip meals or opt for fast foods that have little or no nutritional value.”  

He noted that introducing an outright ban would be complex. “Bringing in a ban is very complicated, even though it may be necessary. These decisions can easily become politicised. However, we are exploring the space to either ban or regulate such foods. We are also working to promote healthy eating habits and raise public awareness through various initiatives.” 

The Deputy Minister’s remarks come in light of research conducted by Senior Professor Renuka Silva of the Faculty of Nutrition at Wayamba University. The study found that rising food prices due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and Cyclone Ditwah had forced many people to shift towards cheaper, less nutritious food options, a trend that continues to persist.