PHI Union urges responsible plastic disposal as ‘Poson Dansals’ increase

A large number of dansals across the country have already been registered ahead of the upcoming Poson Poya holiday, Acting President of the Public Health Inspectors' Union of Sri Lanka Upul Rohana stated.He noted that the number of registered dansals this year is significantly higher compared to the Vesak Poya period, with the highest number of registrations reported from the North Central Province.Rohana stressed the importance of avoiding the use of plastic and polythene when organising dansals, adding that special attention will be given to inspecting food and hot beverages served in plastic containers.He warned that storing hot and cold food items in polythene could pose serious health risks and urged organisers to take necessary precautions to ensure food safety and public health.The Acting President of the Union further highlighted that the country is currently facing an increased risk of a dengue outbreak, noting that improper disposal of plastic waste from dansals could contribute to the spread of dengue mosquitoes.He called on organisers and the public to exercise greater responsibility regarding the use and disposal of plastic and polythene during these religious events."On previous occasions, we have observed that cups used at beverage and coffee dansals are discarded carelessly in various locations. We urge everyone to pay special attention to proper disposal, as discarded containers can become breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes," he said.