• Inspections to begin this week 

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) is preparing to conduct inspections in the Colombo area in the coming days to determine whether food stocks affected by the recent flash floods and deemed unsuitable for consumption are being returned to the market.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, PHIU General Secretary Chamil Muthukuda said the flash floods could have affected food stocks in several areas. “We need to inspect them and destroy the stocks if any,” he said.

He said many sellers have already removed the damaged food stocks themselves and handed them over to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) for disposal. However, he noted that there had been instances during the Ditwah period in which food deemed unsuitable for consumption had been returned to the market for sale.

“During the festival season, we conduct inspections too. However, following the flash floods, we will start inspections from this week onwards to see whether any stocks have been affected by the floods. Most sellers have removed the damaged stocks, but we will be inspecting from next week to see whether any is still left,” he said.

The flash floods that hit Colombo on 6 November inundated several areas, including Pettah, where stocks intended for the festive season are stored. However, the extent of the damage and the overall impact of the floods on these stocks have yet to be assessed.