The House Committee, chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, has decided to appoint a special committee tasked with submitting proposals to enhance the health and safety standards of food and beverages served within Parliament.
At the request of the Speaker, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), led by the Battaramulla Medical Officer of Health, conducted an inspection last April of the Parliament kitchen and other areas related to food and beverage preparation.
Following the inspection, the PHIs submitted a detailed report with their observations to the House Committee.
Speaking at the meeting, Battaramulla Medical Officer of Health Y.B. Indika highlighted that while their team has examined food safety in nearly 150 government institutions in the Battaramulla area, this was the first time they had assessed food safety in Parliament. He also expressed his gratitude to the Speaker for facilitating the initiative.
He further noted that a comprehensive report on the procurement of food ingredients, production, storage, and serving processes in Parliament was submitted to the Speaker.
The Speaker emphasized the importance of ensuring the hygiene and safety of meals provided to Members of Parliament, foreign diplomats, government officials, security forces, and other employees within the premises.
To address existing shortcomings in infrastructure and catering services, the Speaker announced the appointment of a dedicated committee to prepare urgent proposals for improvement.
It was proposed that the committee include the area’s Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Inspectors, an engineer with expertise in kitchen operations from the State Engineering Corporation, an architect, the Director of Catering and Housekeeping Services of Parliament, and the Coordinating Engineer of Parliament.
In addition, the meeting also focused on service and maintenance concerns at the official residences of Members of Parliament in Madiwela. The Speaker instructed the relevant officials to take prompt action to resolve these issues.
