Rajitha says allegations on milk powder baseless

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today the statement made by Deputy Minister Buddhika Pathirana saying that imported milk powder contained animal fat was totally false.

He told parliament that tests conducted at local and international levels had proved that no harmful substances other than dairy fat were contained in imported milk powder.

"The food safety division of the Health Ministry has conducted tests on imported milk powder. I will table all the reports on this in parliament. A special authority in New Zealand has also conducted a test on this. The officials of the food safety section explained all the reports to me and pointed out that the statement made by the Deputy Minister was baseless," he said.

UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa said a local organisation called 'Mawbima Lanka Foundation', comprising of business professionals had obtained a report from a British institution that imported milk powder contained harmful substances and there was a case ongoing with milk importing company on the matter.

He pointed out that it was wrong to say there was no issue in imported milk powder just because health ministry officials claimed so and stressed the need to conduct a local and an international level investigation on the matter.

"Deputy Minister Buddhika Pathirana made the statement in parliament based on facts revealed by the Consumer Affairs Authority officials. It is better to appoint a parliament select committee on this matter," he said.(Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)