JVP flays govt. for ministers’ contradictory assertions over toxic coconut oil

By Saman Indrajith

Ministerial rhetoric will not help cover up the contaminated coconut oil released to the market and the government has to come up with a scientific method to ensure that the public would not consume the oil containing a carcinogenic toxin, the JVP says.

Addressing the media at their party headquarters in Pelwatte on Tuesday, former JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that ministers’ responses were contradictory and only confused the public.

“One claims the coconut oil containing carcinogens has not been released to the market. According to him all stocks of imported coconut oil have been sealed. Another says there have been no complaints from the public so far. Another minister says that there is nothing to be afraid of as the government will re-export the contaminated coconut oil stocks. They are all at sea.”

Dr Jayatissa said a second test conducted by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) had confirmed that unrefined coconut oil contained the carcinogenic aflatoxin. “The Consumer Affairs Authority has stated that more than 100 samples of coconut oil randomly taken from various parts of the country are already being tested. Doesn’t it show that they are not certain whether the toxic oil has already been released to the market?”

Former MP Sunil Handunnetti said: “The ruling party must not forget the fact that their main campaign slogan was national security and we are now questioning of its ability to ensure food security, which is a prerequisite for national security. We want to know what the government is going to do about the stock of contaminated coconut oil. The re-exporting of this would not be a solution because it is not right to re-export it knowingly that such action will endanger the lives of people in another country. This stock should be destroyed scientifically.”

Handunnetti said the government should know that getting its ministers to make irresponsible statements would not be able to reduce the gravity of the threat confronted by the people and it was prudent to find ways and means of preventing a shortage of coconut oil in the market ahead of the traditional New Year.