No food licence for most city hotels

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Majority of the city star class and top hotels in the Colombo city are operating without a food licence from the Colombo Municipal Council which is issued to them after inspecting the food hygiene conditions, workers health and the cleanliness of the place, Chief Medical Officer of the CMC Public Health Department Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said.

He said out of the 550 city hotels including the star class hotels which had obtained the food licence from the Colombo Municipal Council last year only 200 had obtained their food licence for 2011.

"There are about 550 places which got the licence last year. But this year so far only 200 had obtained licences because we are strict and they have to improve their places as the CMC is gradually improving standards for food hygiene in the city hotels and food outlets," Dr. Kariyawasam said. Among the city star class hotels the Grand Oriental hotel and Cinnamon Grand Hotel have obtained the licence for this year.

"Some hotels are still yet to do the medicals of the workers but nothing seemed to have been done so far. They won't get licences," he said.

The CMC has made it compulsory for all the hotel workers to have their medical check ups before issuing food licence for the hotels. Dr. Kariyawasam said though some star class hotels claim places are so clean but some of their workers had typhoid and hepatitis.

"By looking at the germs we found we can tell as to how it has appeared. Unless everything is fine we don't issue the food licence. That is why only 200 have obtained their food licence so far," Dr. Kariyawasam explained.

"We are making an effort to check all the hotel workers to make sure that they do not become breeding grounds for diseases. But these hotels are not complying with this," Dr. Kariyawasam added. "Without a licence they can't operate. But I am not the person who is filing legal action against them.

The Municipal Treasurers Department will file action against them for not obtaining the licenses," he added.