Half of take away lunch parcels in Colombo contaminated - survey

Shirley WIJESINGHE

A Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) survey confirmed that more than 50 per cent of take away lunch parcels sold in the city are contaminated, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said.

Most of these parcels are found at the vicinity of the Colombo University.

"However as a result of measures taken by the CMC, the percentage has been reduced to 30 per cent, Dr. Kariyawasam added.

He was speaking at a ceremony to present certificates of commendation to Eating Houses organised by CMC, at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel yesterday.

CMC laboratory facilities have been updated. All common pathogens can he detected at the CMC laboratory. The laboratory was also able to detect some micro organisms in Arishta bottles available in the market, Dr. Kariyawasam said.

Dr. Kariyawasam said every kitchen should be at least 120 square feet.

The CMC is not prepared to be a watchdog of eating houses but it likes to support them by providing guidelines, he said.

He appealed to eating house owners to maintain at least the basic requirements stipulated by the CMC.

Deputy Director General of Health Services P.B. Maheepala said Sri Lanka could achieve an adequate development level in the health sector comparatively to other countries in the region.