Consumer Rights Protection Initiative Launched Under ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Program
Coinciding with World Consumer Rights Day on March 15, a new initiative under the “Clean Sri Lanka” Program is set to be implemented to raise awareness and foster a shift in societal attitudes towards consumer rights protection.
A discussion on this initiative took place at the Presidential Secretariat, chaired by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, with the participation of officials from the Ministries of Health and Agriculture.
Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake emphasized the importance of implementing existing policies and plans of the Ministry of Health to ensure that citizens have access to safe and high-quality food.
Extensive discussions addressed consumers’ right to access high-quality and safe food.
The dialogue centred around creating an environment conducive to compliance with health standards, enhancing consumer confidence, and exploring ways to involve the public and private sectors in achieving these objectives.
Attention was also drawn to the practical implementation of existing policies and plans related to food standards and quality assurance through the “Clean Sri Lanka” Program, focusing on identifying sensible measures to achieve these goals.
Discussions centred on integrating the “Clean Sri Lanka” Programme with the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Policy framework, particularly in ensuring safety and proper storage of agricultural produce.
Attention was also given to implementing existing regulations related to restaurant certification, street vendor regulation, registering street food establishments and food trucks, and registering personnel training.
The meeting was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President, G.M.R.D. Apponsu, Additional Secretary to the President, S.P.C. Sugiswara, and senior officials from various ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, the Department of Food Commissioner, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health Services, the Consumer Affairs Authority, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, the Industrial Technology Institute, the Central Environmental Authority, the National Food Promotion Board, and the Department of Measurement Units, Standards, and Services.