Dates: 2–3 October 2025
Venue: District Secretariat Conference Hall, Rathnapura
Organized by: Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives, in collaboration with the District Secretariat – Rathnapura and the MSAPN Secretariat
Background
The official launch of the Multi-Sectoral Action Plan for Nutrition (MSAPN) in Rathnapura District marked an important milestone in translating Sri Lanka’s national nutrition framework into action at the sub-national level. Led by the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives, the initiative aimed to strengthen district-level coordination and address persistent nutrition inequities through a multi-sectoral approach.
The event was jointly coordinated by the Rathnapura District Secretariat and the MSAPN Secretariat, with the participation of district and divisional officers, civil society organizations, youth groups, and development partners.
Participation
Over 80 participants attended the launch, representing key government sectors including health, agriculture, education, social services, and local government, along with CSOs, youth organizations, and representatives from Nuwara Eliya and Batticaloa districts, identified as pilot districts. Officers from the MSAPN Secretariat and the SUN People’s Forum (SUN PF) also participated.
Key Highlights – 2 October 2025
The programme featured presentations on the MSAPN vision, implementation roadmap, operational guidelines, district selection criteria, and nutrition financing mechanisms. The sessions emphasized inter-sectoral collaboration, district ownership, and practical approaches to implementing MSAPN at district, divisional, and village levels. Interactive group work enabled district officers to better understand coordination roles and implementation responsibilities.
Field Visit – 3 October 2025
A follow-up field visit was conducted to Amitiyagoda village in the Godakawela Division, where multi-sectoral officers, CSO representatives, and youth volunteers engaged with nutritionally at-risk households. Key observations highlighted the need for improved nutrition awareness, behavior change communication, home gardening support, strengthened WASH facilities, livelihood development, and better targeting of social protection benefits.
Way Forward
Moving ahead, the focus will be on strengthening district and divisional coordination mechanisms, integrating nutrition-sensitive actions into local plans, expanding community engagement through CSOs and youth networks, and conducting follow-up field interventions. Greater emphasis will also be placed on behavioral change, family well-being, and value-based awareness programmes, in collaboration with religious leaders and academic experts.
Rathanpura Field Visit
