CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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Animal fodder imported for human consumption
Stocks of substandard food commodities such as green gram and lentils, meant for animal fodder, have been imported and released to the market for human consumption, Parliament was informed. During the question time, UNP MP P. Harrison raised the issue in the House on Tuesday. The UNP MP said the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), in one of its reports, asked the government to take action against errant companies engaged in the import of such food items.
In the COPE report submitted to Parliament in 2007, this issue had been highlighted with special request for the government to initiate action.
“I heard that these companies continue to import substandard stocks of food items such as green gram, lentils and cowpea. People are compelled to consume them. These are items meant for animal fodder in other countries,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane admitted that there were such cases reported. Earlier, he said Basmati rice available in the local market was also not of the proper quality.
“There were cases where low quality dhal meant for horse fodder in other countries been imported to Sri Lanka,” he said.
Ministry Secretary W. Sakalasuriya said though there were imports of food items of inferior quality, only the Consumer Affairs Authority and the health authorities could take action against such errant trade activities.
“They can deal with the import of food items unfit for human consumption. This is a phenomenon of the market economy,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)
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