By Tharumalee Silva
Owners of high-end restaurants in Colombo had convened a meeting with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to discuss the raids being carried out by Public Health Inspectors (PHI) at Colombo restaurants.
CMC Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. R.L. De S. Wijayamuni told The Sunday Morning that the CMC had been accused of violating the privacy of certain restaurants by allowing private TV channels to cover the inspections as they were in progress.
The CMO defended these acts by stating that consumers had the right to know the truth about what they consume, and also cited the Right to Information Act (RTI).
He said the CMC also needed to notify the public of the value they receive in exchange for their money. He also insisted that the CMC had not alerted specific media stations, but that freelance media persons belonging to specific media stations had joined the CMC while they carried out inspections throughout the district, as it was a large-scale operation.
He explained that any media station could have covered the inspections that were ongoing, but that only two private TV channels seemed to be interested in the matter.
Dr. Wijayamuni also stated that a particular restaurant was operating illegally, adding: “It also had an unauthorised tube well within the premises which the CMC has prohibited, because tube well water contains E. coli bacteria or faecal matter not suitable for human consumption, or even for washing purposes..
Dr. Wijayamuni stated that the PHI and CMC have the authority by law under the Food Act No. 26 of 1980, amended in 1991, which clearly identifies the chief of food authority as the Director General of Health Services, who is also authorised to implement and ensure compliance to regulations in the Food Act.
The PHI and the CMC officers were accused by some restaurants of touching the food with their bare hands during the raids. However, the CMO denied these allegations.
A letter written by Plan B Venue Management Director Thoshan Ediriweera with reference to the raid carried out at Kami Maki, Colombo was published on social media.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ediriweera stated that legal procedures were to follow and that therefore, he could not comment on the matter.
Real intentions
The CMO officer stated that their intentions were not to jeopardise the industry in Colombo as they were aware it’s detrimental for the country’s economy. However, he explained that they were concerned about the levels of food hygiene, not only in Colombo, but around the entire island.
He then stated that the laws and regulations in Sri Lanka do not permit the CMC officers to solve issues directly with the establishment.
He stated that the CMC planned on keeping records of information gained through these inspections and conduct additional thorough inspections with the CMO and a medical officer solely appointed for the job.
It is expected that the CMC appoint a PHI to every food establishment, however, the officer stated that this was not practical as the CMC lacked the necessary human resources to do so.
Compliance
It is not only in Sri Lanka that eateries are required to adhere to certain laws and maintain standards, but the world over. As such, it is the responsibility of the head chefs and management at these restaurants to ensure compliance to the Food Act.
The PHIs play the role of a watchdog in these instances, monitoring the procedures.
He stated that no five-star hotel in Colombo had protested against these raids and afforded that the CMC had not found them in violation of the Food Act, and that their five-star status requires they train their staff appropriately and ensure food is prepared and served in hygienic conditions.
Discussing the matter of standards that need to be maintained at 'night shops' (smaller shops often selling local fast food) when operating late into the night and sometimes into early hours of morning, Dr. Wijayamuni stated that a Central Food Control Unit, where customers can lodge complaints (hotline 0112 676 161), operated till 9.30 p.m. The officer assured that the complaints would be attended to within half an hour of the time the complaint is lodged. He stated that there were two PHIs attending to public complaints.
He further stated that the CMC conducted thorough inspections during evenings led by special PHIs and MOHs and also pays surprise visits to these saivar shops.
He stated that the CMC had prosecuted and taken action against a very prominent and popular establishment that operates through the night in the Bambalapitiya area.
The CMO stated that there was no political interference when they carried out raids and that the Mayoress of Colombo Rosy Senanayake had given specific instructions to the CMC officers to continue the raids, and to ensure that the health and wellbeing of the public remains a priority.
Last week, the CMC CMO revealed that many establishments, including reputed high-end restaurants, were serving food unsuitable for consumption. The CMC had inspected 163 restaurants, out of which 65 were blacklisted and 35 were issued red notices.
Owners of high-end restaurants in Colombo had convened a meeting with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to discuss the raids being carried out by Public Health Inspectors (PHI) at Colombo restaurants.
CMC Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. R.L. De S. Wijayamuni told The Sunday Morning that the CMC had been accused of violating the privacy of certain restaurants by allowing private TV channels to cover the inspections as they were in progress.
The CMO defended these acts by stating that consumers had the right to know the truth about what they consume, and also cited the Right to Information Act (RTI).
He said the CMC also needed to notify the public of the value they receive in exchange for their money. He also insisted that the CMC had not alerted specific media stations, but that freelance media persons belonging to specific media stations had joined the CMC while they carried out inspections throughout the district, as it was a large-scale operation.
He explained that any media station could have covered the inspections that were ongoing, but that only two private TV channels seemed to be interested in the matter.
Dr. Wijayamuni also stated that a particular restaurant was operating illegally, adding: “It also had an unauthorised tube well within the premises which the CMC has prohibited, because tube well water contains E. coli bacteria or faecal matter not suitable for human consumption, or even for washing purposes..
Dr. Wijayamuni stated that the PHI and CMC have the authority by law under the Food Act No. 26 of 1980, amended in 1991, which clearly identifies the chief of food authority as the Director General of Health Services, who is also authorised to implement and ensure compliance to regulations in the Food Act.
The PHI and the CMC officers were accused by some restaurants of touching the food with their bare hands during the raids. However, the CMO denied these allegations.
A letter written by Plan B Venue Management Director Thoshan Ediriweera with reference to the raid carried out at Kami Maki, Colombo was published on social media.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ediriweera stated that legal procedures were to follow and that therefore, he could not comment on the matter.
Real intentions
The CMO officer stated that their intentions were not to jeopardise the industry in Colombo as they were aware it’s detrimental for the country’s economy. However, he explained that they were concerned about the levels of food hygiene, not only in Colombo, but around the entire island.
He then stated that the laws and regulations in Sri Lanka do not permit the CMC officers to solve issues directly with the establishment.
He stated that the CMC planned on keeping records of information gained through these inspections and conduct additional thorough inspections with the CMO and a medical officer solely appointed for the job.
It is expected that the CMC appoint a PHI to every food establishment, however, the officer stated that this was not practical as the CMC lacked the necessary human resources to do so.
Compliance
It is not only in Sri Lanka that eateries are required to adhere to certain laws and maintain standards, but the world over. As such, it is the responsibility of the head chefs and management at these restaurants to ensure compliance to the Food Act.
The PHIs play the role of a watchdog in these instances, monitoring the procedures.
He stated that no five-star hotel in Colombo had protested against these raids and afforded that the CMC had not found them in violation of the Food Act, and that their five-star status requires they train their staff appropriately and ensure food is prepared and served in hygienic conditions.
Discussing the matter of standards that need to be maintained at 'night shops' (smaller shops often selling local fast food) when operating late into the night and sometimes into early hours of morning, Dr. Wijayamuni stated that a Central Food Control Unit, where customers can lodge complaints (hotline 0112 676 161), operated till 9.30 p.m. The officer assured that the complaints would be attended to within half an hour of the time the complaint is lodged. He stated that there were two PHIs attending to public complaints.
He further stated that the CMC conducted thorough inspections during evenings led by special PHIs and MOHs and also pays surprise visits to these saivar shops.
He stated that the CMC had prosecuted and taken action against a very prominent and popular establishment that operates through the night in the Bambalapitiya area.
The CMO stated that there was no political interference when they carried out raids and that the Mayoress of Colombo Rosy Senanayake had given specific instructions to the CMC officers to continue the raids, and to ensure that the health and wellbeing of the public remains a priority.
Last week, the CMC CMO revealed that many establishments, including reputed high-end restaurants, were serving food unsuitable for consumption. The CMC had inspected 163 restaurants, out of which 65 were blacklisted and 35 were issued red notices.