The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) was capable of conducting laboratory tests to the internationally accepted standards to determine DCD (Dicyandiamide) levels in imported milk foods in order to ensure consumers - children in particular - not to consume contaminated milk products, Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika  Ranawaka said today.

Addressing the media at the ITI auditorium, Minister Ranawaka said certain media outlets had cast doubt unfairly on the efficacy and the competency of the ITI’s ability to successfully test the imported milk powder for DCD but the ITI was fully equipped with the technology and equipment to do the job to internationally accepted standard, in the past, at present and in future.

“I can assure you that the ITI has been further strengthened in its technological capacities to test not only for DCD but for any other contamination in water, soil, vegetables, fruits or any other food and drink and even drugs with the importation of LCMC (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) technology at a cost of Rs. 44 million which is an analytical chemistry technique that combines the physical separation capabilities,” Minister Ranawaka stressed.

Minister Ranawaka said with the installation of the LCMC at the ITI which is the most modern technology available, the scientists at the ITI laboratories had the capacity to detect .05 particles of DCD in one kilogram of milk powder as opposed to detection of .5 particles in the past.

Minister Ranawaka appealed to the media not to mislead the public by giving publicity to half baked news pertaining to CDC controversy as it involves the health of 21 million people and children.
 
He added that the best example for the success of the endeavour of the ITI was the sharp drop of the importation of milk powder to Sri Lanka to 3,202 metric tons in the first half of 2014 from 84,000 metric tons in 2012. (Sandun Jayasekera)