CMC gives ultimatum to food outlets

Disna MUDALIGE

*Get trade licence before August 31

*Only three obtained licences this year

All hotels and eating houses operating without a valid trade licence within the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) should be licenced on or before August 31, CMC Chief Medical Officer Dr Pradeep Kariyawasam told the Daily News yesterday.

He said that the CMC will take legal action against owners of food establishments if they fail to obtain the licence before the given deadline. He said that even though there are about 10 star grade hotels operating in the CMC, only three had obtained the licence for this year.

Dr Kariyawasam said that only about 230, out of about 550 food establishments, in the CMC had obtained the trade licence so far for this year.

“About 320 hotels and eateries are still operating without a valid trade licence,” he said. He said that the physical condition of the place, water supply from the main line, proper garbage disposal, condition of utensils, workers’ health etc are considered when issuing licences. All workers in these eateries should be registered with the CMC and for that they must under go a medical examination from CMC approved medical centres,” Dr Kariyawasam said.

Dr Kariyawasam said that the CMC is working hard to improve the hygienic conditions of the hotels and other eateries considering public complaints and the tourism boom in the country.