Officials promise clean and fraud-free dansal

The Government intends to strictly regulate dansal held during Vesak, Poson and other Full Moon Poya days due to concerns over fraud and unhygenic food. A circular regarding the matter, issued by the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, has been sent to all District and Divisional Secretaries. The circular says that there have been reports that various institutions, organisations and people are fraudulently collecting money from the public on the pretext of holding dansal. Some parties don’t properly spend the money collected for holding dansal, the circular also pointed out.

Therefore, guidelines have been introduced to regulate dansal throughout the country, Nimal Kotawalagedara, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs told the Sunday Times. Accordingly, all dansal must only be organised on the advice of the Chief Incumbent of the local temple and with the knowledge of the area Grama Niladhari. Funds too can only be solicited on the recommendation of the Chief Incumbent and the Grama Niladhari.

The circular also states that organisers must ensure that the dansal do not inconvenience the public. This includes playing loud music at the dansal.

Other specifications include that meals must be prepared hygienically and to avoid using Buddhist flags to direct people towards dansal. A yellow flag can be used for the purpose instead, the circular says.

Liquor, drugs and cigarettes must be strictly avoided while organisers must ensure that all those who attend the dansal are treated courteously and with respect, Mr Kotawalagedara added.

The District and Divisional Secretaries have been instructed to take the necessary measures, along with assistance from the police and health officials, to ensure the dansal meet such standards.

Food hygiene is also a major concern and the Colombo Municipal Council ( CMC) is taking steps in this regard, officials told the Sunday Times.

Dansal held within the CMC limits must be registered with the Council’s Department of Public Health. Organisers can either download an application form from the CMC website or come and obtain one in person, CMC’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said. More than 40 dansal had been registered by the middle of this week. Over 20 applicants were to hold rice dansal while others included ice cream, manioc, biscuits and drink dansal, according to the CMC.

Three CMC teams will be visiting locations in Colombo on Vesak Poya Day (29) and the day after to check whether organisers were adhering to the standards, Dr Wijayamuni stressed.

CMC’s Chief Food Inspector, M.B. Lal Kumara said inspectors would visit the dansal site prior to the opening of the dansal to check the suitability of the location and to see if any outdated or poor quality goods are being used in the preparation of meals.

The CMC will not permit dansal to draw water from wells. Water had to be obtained from the pipe-borne water supplied by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board ( NWSDB). The water will have to be stored properly. “We have received complaints in the past that in some dansal, water was being kept in barrels that hadn’t been cleaned properly and we will ensure that this does not happen,” Mr Kumara said. Organisers cannot keep any type of chemical in the vicinity of the dansal, he further said.

In addition, concerns over dengue mean that organisers need to make sure that any water that is released from the dansal does not collect anywhere, and turn into a potential mosquito breeding site.

Handling of waste is also to be strictly regulated. “All waste that comes out of dansal must be segregated prior to being handed over to CMC garbage collectors," Mr. Kumara said.

He said Food Inspectors and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) will be visiting the sites after the dansal end and if waste has not been disposed of properly, legal action will be taken against the organisers.

In addition, those serving food in the dansal must be properly attired. “It would be ideal if they can wear gloves and masks to minimise any risk of contamination,” Mr Kumara said.

Inspectors will also check whether dansal serving ice cream are storing them at the proper temperatures and whether manioc was being cooked properly at dansal serving it.

Members of the public who encounter any food hygiene or environmental issues can complain to the CMC on 0112676161 or 0112-696594.

Food Inspectors and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) will be visiting the sites after the dansal end and if waste has not been disposed of properly, legal action will be taken against the organisers