Health Minister wants to punish officers for blowing whistle on contaminated Thriposha

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told Parliament yesterday that action would be taken against officials who had exposed that nutritional supplement Thriposha distributed among children and expectant mothers was contaminated with aflatoxin.

The Minister said that some officials had said that the Thriposha being distributed contained a toxin. The officials should obtain permission from the Secretary to the Ministry before making such statements. The Minister said that he had made inquiries and found that the proper procedure had not been followed. Action would be taken against them for making such statements and causing panic among the public, the Minister said.

The Minister said so in response to a question raised by SJB Matale District MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne who pointed out that there were media reports that thriposha currently being distributed contained aflatoxin. “