Bus route eateries to be classified
 

BY RAJMI Manatunga

THE Transport Ministry has decided to clamp down on restaurants and eateries providing unhygienic food and drinks to commuters travelling in long distance buses.

Acting Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanne told the media yesterday that steps will be taken to classify, standardise and register eateries islandwide that provide food and drinks to bus commuters.

"The National Transport Commission (NTC) has received a series of complaints from commuters that many of these restaurants where long distance buses stop do not maintain any standards regarding the quality or price of products and even serve liquor to bus drivers. Therefore, we decided to intervene and standardise these places," he said.

According to the new regulations, it would be mandatory for all restaurants catering to commuters of long distance buses to be registered at the NTC.

"However, a restaurant will be registered as a 'registered food handler' only if it scores above 80 per cent at the classification where we would look into the hygiene of the food, the facilities and the health and training of the employees. Steps will be taken to help commuters identify these places through sign boards," NTC Chairman Dr. Amal Kumarage said.