16 July 2021 08:21 pm Views - 4011
Clarifying the reports that confiscated canned fish was sold through Lanka Sathosa following a Cabinet decision, its Chairman Rear Admiral (Retd) Ananda Peiris said today Lanka Sathosa was selling a number of food items confiscated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) after Food Control Unit at the SLPA approved them for human consumption.
He told the Daily Mirror that a decision was taken to paste a sticker covering the brand name and name of the local trader as he opposed to the stock of canned fish being sold under his name.
He said a sample of about 56 cans was taken from all the containers and tested and approved those are fit for human consumption by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI).
The Chairman said a consignment of big-onions and potatoes confiscated by the Ports Authority are also sold by the Lanka Sathosa.
However, he said they had received several complaints from the consumers who had purchased the can fish and said they were refunded the money.
"It is obvious receiving complaints on any food item. We have sold about 50,000 cans so far," he said.
The Chairman said food items imported to the country were confiscated if they had been illegally imported or were not released from the port within the specified time period and added that the Cabinet had decided to sell food items confiscated in that manner through the Lanka Sathosa at a concessionary price.
"Such food items were auctioned earlier. After the Cabinet decision, they are auctioned, only if we did not purchase them," he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)