Investigation Officials of the Southern Regional Office of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) collected an income of Rs. 2,157,500 in fines from fraudulent traders, through raids and inspections conducted during the first two months in the South.
According to SP Assistant Director of the CAA S. Nandasiri, investigation officials will intensify their raids and inspections against errant traders in the Southern Province during the upcoming festive season to safeguard consumers against unscrupulous traders.
The total number of raids carried out in the Southern region during that period was 371. The number of raids carried out in the Matara district was 140 and the revenue collected was Rs. 1,022,500, raids conducted in the Galle district were 132 and the income collected was Rs. 719,500 and the number of raids in the Hambantota district was 90. Rs. 415,500 was obtained by way of court fines.
Errant traders were prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Courts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Charges framed against them were selling rice at exorbitant rates, hoarding of essential consumer items, sale and display of food items unsuitable for human consumption, sale and display of expired food items, selling food decayed and eaten by rats, weevils and insects, altering set prices on labels and selling them at excessive rates, selling electrical appliances without issuing warranty cards, sale of cement above the set prices, non-display of price tags and violating orders, rules and regulations imposed by the Consumer Affairs Authority.
Complaints on fraud, malpractice and corruption committed by unscrupulous traders are pouring into the authority from consumers daily. Under these circumstances, the CAA has enhanced sudden raids and mobile inspections against fraudulent traders, investigation officials said.
Awareness programmes on consumer rights are also being conducted for schoolchildren, members of voluntary organisations, people and the trading community by the authority.
On instructions of the Ministry of Industries and Trade and under the supervision of District Secretaries of Galle, Matara and Hambantota, the CAA investigation officers conducted these raids and inspections throughout the Southern region.
Add new comment