Additional Secretary (Public Health Services) of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media – Consultant Dr. Lakshmi Somathunga states that 19,185 Poson ‘Dansal’ have been registered across the country for the 2025 Poson festival.
The breakdown includes :
Anuradhapura – 2,301, Kurunegala – 2,114, Gampaha – 1,792, Kandy – 1,264, Galle – 1,186, Matara – 1,021, Ratnapura – 1,097, Colombo – 944, Kalutara – 977, Badulla – 968, Matale – 812, Monaragala – 716, Puttalam – 731, Polonnaruwa – 650, Ampara – 584, Hambantota – 533, Trincomalee – 152, Nuwara Eliya – 352, Batticaloa – 9, Jaffna – 3, Kilinochchi – 3, Mullaitivu – 17, Vavuniya – 21, Mannar – 2, Kalmunai – 14, Kegalle – 922
A special circular titled “Detailed Guidelines for Organizing a Safe and Hygienic Dansala,” dated 2025.05.06, has been issued by the Director General of Health Services.
The guidelines cover registration with health authorities, inspections by public health inspectors, hygiene standards for food handlers and preparers, quality of raw ingredients, food preparation, waste disposal, and overall food safety awareness and enforcement.