Workshop to promote rice flour based bread, bakery products

COLOMBO: A workshop to promote rice flour based bread and other foods as an alternative to wheat flour was held on September 26 at noon at the Lake House Auditorium. The event was organised by Lake House and the Consumer Affairs Authority under the Chairmanship of ANCL Chairman, President's Counsel Anil Obeysekere.

Minister of Science and Technology Professor Tissa Vitharana, Agricultural Development Minister S. M. Chandrasena and Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Sarath Wijesinghe were present.

The Industrial Technology Institute of the Ministry of Science and Technology made presentations based on their extensive research to prove that we are in a position to produce rice flour, bread and other foods.

Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Sarath Wijesinghe said on the occasion that "The food pattern that was disturbed by invaders have to be changed, and we lay the foundation today to change this bread culture to rice culture and on the other hand to have our own, - home grown food culture based on our traditional values.

Our traditional values were revolved round the lakes, dagabas and the paddy fields. With this, our ancestors lived long, and they not only lived long but they led a very healthy life.

We spent a fair portion of our national income for bread and wheat flour which we import from the USA, Brazil and other parts of the world, with that we import diabetics, blood pressure and many other complicated diseases.

The CAA Chairman also said by doing so we helped the farmers in other countries and not our farmers who should be looked after. The main staple food of Asians is rice and rice connected food. It is cheap; and also nutritious; it is more nutritious than wheat.

"On the other hand, the wheat we now eat is the remnants as the best part went to the hull and the hull hump is being taken away extracted and we have been given only the unproductive part. And it is not our traditional food, and every ounce of wheat we import is our own money.

But rice is not that. We are self-sufficient and by consuming rice we improve our health, we live long, we help our future generations and more over we help our own farmers".

"We have become a bread eating nation. This is a very sad state. It is still not too late to correct the mistake made during our history. We import 800,000 metric tons of wheat flour and we grow 900,000 hectares of paddy. It is easy to grow paddy and also it is economical for us to grow paddy and it is our traditional, staple and home grown food."

"It is easy to prepare bread and bakery products from rice flour. At the moment, with wheat flour, the bakers introduce yeast and foreign products which are poisonous and unhealthy. But in the case of rice flour, those side effects are minimal.

We, at this moment, extend our appreciation to Mouky Environmental Organisation, Minister S. M. Chandrasena, who was with us from the initial stages.

And of course, the Sherry Bakery which initially gave us a helping hand and it was a successful start and now, for the second phase, we are grateful to Lake House and it's Chairman, Anil J. Obeysekere, President's Counsel who is helping us in this national campaign, which will turn a complete new face in our history and in our eating habits," Wijesinghe said.

He said it is also noteworthy to mention that the second phase is launched at Lake House - Lake House which is a hostorical place; it is D. R. Wijewardene who is the father of modern daily newspapers and who was instrumental in the improvement of traditional values and the traditional way of life including eating habits."

"We act as a catalyst and as a facilitator, we only paved the way for the Government and the private sector because it is our motto to help the private - Government partnership and also to assist the lock industrialists and the lock traders.

This is what we do and our efforts are compatible with the economy, the qualities of the Government, the objects and intentions of the Consumer Act and Mahinda Chinthanaya.

We have to overcome the difficulties and our only strength is your assistance, support and the commitment."

"We intend expanding this project by requesting assistance from other rice eating countries like Japan, Korea, China, India and we are pleased to note that many organisations, private establishments have come forward to help us.

"We will also be requesting the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and other people concerned to popularise rice products in hospitals, Govt. schools, and other public and private institutions".

"Bread and other bakery products should be by the same or better standard and the taste as that of products from wheat flour. It is not difficult and ITI and other private establishments and bakers have come out with their research and experience to give due encouragement and assistance and prove that this is a reality".

"Last, but not least we thank Lake House and its employees who have come forward to launch this project and it is only the beginning of a new era," the Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman said.

Special Provisions included to protect consumer in the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003

* All offences under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act are Criminal Offences'

* All the offences are cognizable offences under this Act which empowers the Authority to enter any business premises for the purpose of investigation where the goods are sold without a warrant.

* The Magistrate Court has the jurisdiction and actions filed under this Act have to be filed in the Magistrates Court.

* The cases/plaints under this Act is filed under 136(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code and a peace officer nominated by the Authority can file a private plaint.

* The penalty under this Act is either a fine or/and imprisonment of either description.

* The Prescription Ordinance does not apply to this Act.