CMC on alert to nab errant dansal organisers

The Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union president Upul Rohana, said that during the Vesak weekend over 6,800 dansalas were checked to verify whether hygienic standards were being observed.

According to Mr. Rohana 107 dansalas were found to be not observing basic hygienic conditions. He added his inspectors were also forced to close down five dansalas which offered fruit and beverage as the water used to prepare the drinks was found to be unfit for human consumption.

He said, as at Friday only 5217 of the dansalas operating in the city were found to be registered with local their councils.

He added over 1,800 PHIs were engaged in monitoring dansalas and often had to instruct the dansal organisers to seperate and segregate the garbage.

Colombo Municipal Council’s Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Githika Ratnawardena contended that only around 272 dansalas were registered in the Colombo city.

She said Municipal Food Unit Inspection officials, Medical Officers of Health (MOH) and Public Health Inspectors( PHI) were deployed to check the cleanliness of the food provided in the various dansalas during the Vesak period.

She emhasised strict checks were maintained on the quality of water and raw ingredients used in the preparation of food products as well as on drinks being served.

Dr Ratnawardena said officials were instructed to advise both registered and non registered organisers of dansalas to improve the quality and hygiene of the food and beverages they offered. They also warned organisers of unregistered dansalas on the need to get themselves registered.

She added three teams consisting of five PHIs, and another comprising five food inspectors had been appointed to inspect the dansalas within the city.

She also requested the public to refrain from dumping waste material in all manner of places and to dispose of it in allocated places within the Vesak zones.