SLPA holds Customs responsible for import of rotten food items

The Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Priyath Bandu Wickrama says that all food items are released from the port with the certificate of the Customs Department. He said no shipment of food is released from ports without the certificate of the Customs.

According to the process, an official of the Department of Foods inspects the container and makes the recommendation to the Customs Department that the food is up to standards. Sri Lanka Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) conducted a series of raids island-wide during the festive season and seized stocks of food unfit for human consumption from Colombo, Dambulla and Hatton.

The Chairman of Traders’ Association of Dambulla Economic Centre has said the Ports Authority was also responsible for the import of food unfit for human consumption, state owned The Dinamina newspaper reported.

A stock of big onion imported for state owned retail network Corporative Wholesale Establishment was found unfit for human consumption recently. Consumer Affairs Authority Tuesday apprehended two groups of racketeers who had planned to issue large stocks of potato that were unfit for human consumption to the market.

In one incident, the CAA raided a store in the Pettah wholesale market and seized a 15,000 kilogram stock of potato that was to be sold to the eateries in Colombo after removing the skin. Another container of 25,000 kilos of potato unfit for human consumption was also taken into custody at Dambulla Economic Center yesterday by the CAA officials. This stock of potato is believed to be a part of a consignment imported from Pakistan.

The Consumer Affairs Authority said legal action would be taken against the errant traders involved in these rackets.