The Hon. Upali Samarasingha

¶ 01 Hon. Member, you raised several points. From the perspective of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, for a long time this country has lacked a comprehensive national policy or harmonized framework on food and related products across all ministries and departments. As a result, substandard medicines and contaminated foods have entered the country. Various toxic substances are added to extend shelf life without proper standards. We see meat displayed without protection and in environmentally unsound ways, which also affects the image seen by foreign tourists. PHIs intervene, and the Health Ministry’s guidelines on safe food are followed. However, overall, there is a desire to formulate an updated national policy and mechanism. The Health and Trade Ministries are working together on these matters.