This month, U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung observed the expansion of the USDA-funded McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, now reaching schools in the Colombo area. During her visit, Ambassador Chung engaged with students, teachers, parents, and meal providers, who shared the program’s positive impact on children’s health and academic progress.
“The United States is proud to support initiatives that provide nutritious meals while fostering a better learning environment,” remarked Ambassador Chung. “This investment in Colombo’s urban schools brings essential support to children and communities, empowering students to pursue their dreams and build a brighter future for Sri Lanka.”
Implemented by Save the Children, the USDA’s PALAM/A II project combats hunger and boosts educational outcomes in vulnerable urban areas by delivering daily school meals, training teachers, promoting literacy, and supporting local communities to improve enrollment and performance.
While this initiative has supported seven other Sri Lankan provinces over the past six years, its recent expansion to Colombo focuses on assisting low-income urban children where dropout rates remain high. Through the PALAM/A II program, daily meals are provided to 16,231 primary students in 44 Colombo schools, supplementing the National School Meal Program to ensure children receive vital nutrition.
Since 2018, the United States has invested $60 million in child health and education in Sri Lanka through McGovern-Dole, including the delivery of over 10,260 metric tons of U.S.-donated commodities and 1,820 metric tons of locally produced fortified rice and canned fish to eight districts.
From October 2024 to 2028, the PALAM/A II program aims to support 199,136 school-aged children in 917 primary schools and 23,200 children in 500 Early Childhood Development centers, prioritizing Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable communities.
