The Ministry of Science and Technology launched the “V-Pramithi” national programme to strengthen the quality and safety of consumer goods available in the Sri Lankan market.
The initiative, introduced in line with the “Clean Sri Lanka” national programme and National Integrity Week, was officially launched at the Pettah Public Market.
As the first phase of the programme, officials conducted inspections at shops within the market and collected random samples of a range of consumer goods, including street food, coconut oil, toys, jaggery, treacle, cosmetics, spices and electrical appliances.
The samples will undergo laboratory testing to assess their quality, composition and safety standards.
Authorities said the programme will be expanded in the future to safeguard consumers, ensure only quality-assured products are available in the market and prevent unsafe goods from reaching the public.
The initiative also aims to raise public awareness about purchasing safe and reliable products while encouraging manufacturers and traders to comply with recognised quality standards.
Science and Technology Minister Professor Chrishantha Abeysena said the programme will carry out comprehensive assessments of commonly used consumer goods and provide technical guidance to ensure that food, beverages and other products entering the market are free from harmful substances, including toxins and heavy metals.
Technical support for the programme is being provided by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board.
The initiative is being implemented under the direction of the Ministry of Science and Technology with the cooperation of several agencies, including the Ministry of Health, the Consumer Affairs Authority and Sri Lanka Police.
The launch event was attended by officials from the relevant institutions, Public Health Inspectors and representatives of technical agencies.
