HealthGeneralHOTThursday, April 23, 2026

Health Authorities Issue Strict Guidelines for Vesak and Poson Dansals

TLDR

Vesak/Poson dansals registration mandatory from May 4th to May 29th.
Register at MOH offices; unregistered dansals will be banned.
PHIs inspect locations, food safety, and hygiene before events.
PHI Association and MOH issue strict food safety guidelines.

The Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines for dansals organized across Sri Lanka for the upcoming Vesak and Poson Poya festivals. These directives, aimed at ensuring food safety and public health, have been circulated to all Medical Officers of Health (MOH) and Food Control Officers nationwide. A key requirement mandates that all dansals must be registered at the respective MOH office within the Public Health Inspector (PHI) division. Organizers are required to provide essential details including the location, their name, address, and contact number during registration. Furthermore, organizers must be well-informed about and adhere to hygienic practices, with MOHs and PHIs conducting inspections to ensure compliance with the 2011 Food Hygiene Regulations.

9 Updates

Update #10\u00b7 May 4 · 8:03 AM

Spokesperson for the Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU), Anura Thilakasiri, has announced that registration for Vesak dansals has commenced. Organizers are required to contact their local Public Health Inspector (PHI) and provide basic details such as the dansal's location and organizer information. Following registration, PHIs will conduct checks on food preparation methods, waste management, food safety, and hygiene standards.

Update #9\u00b7 May 4 · 3:47 AM

Registration for Vesak dansals, which commenced on May 4th, will continue island-wide until May 29th. This information was confirmed by Chamil Muthukuda, Secretary of the Public Health Inspectors' (PHI) Association. The Ministry of Health has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines for organizers, and on-site inspections are also scheduled.

Update #8\u00b7 May 4 · 2:03 AM

Registration for Vesak dansals has commenced island-wide from May 4th. Organizers must register their dansals, including various types such as food, beverages, and drinking water, at their nearest Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office. The Public Health Inspectors' Association has warned that any dansal held without registration will be banned. PHIs will conduct regular inspections of ingredients, water, food preparation sites, and dansal locations throughout Vesak week.

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