Canteens, suppliers raided over bad food in Mt. Lavinia, Dehiwala

The Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council had launched a programme to carry out raids on canteens in Government and Private institutions and caterers supplying food and beverages, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Indika Ellawala said.

He said that the Municipal Council had received several complaints from employees against the poor conditions of canteens and catering services at their places of work.

“A stock of 60 bottles of outdated soft drinks that violated the colour codes was destroyed during a raid on an employment agency in the Ratmalana area,” he said.

The PHIS later carried out a raid on the soft drinks manufacturing establishment and filed legal action against the owner of the canteen and the soft drink manufacturer.

“They were produced before Mount Lavinia Magistrate and fined Rs.1,000 each. The stock of soft drinks unfit for human consumption was destroyed on the court order.

The CMOH said a team of PHIS had been deployed to carry out raids on canteens and catering services

supplying food to them.

He said red notices would be issued on canteen and catering services that violated the food safety regulations prior to legal action.

Administrative PHI Lalith Perera said the owners of several canteens had not paid adequate attention to food safety regulations applicable to storing food.

Area PHIS W.p.rashmika and H.G.N.C.B. Meegahakotuea carried out the raids on the instructions of Admin. PHI Lalith Perera and CMOH Dr Indika

Ellawala.