(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) on the instructions of Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishard Bathuideen has launched a program to nab errant traders who cheat the consumers during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Officials of the CAA have been given special instructions to check even mobile shops as well as places conducting sales, said the Minister.
He said that, during the last week of March they checked stores where wholesale goods were stored in all districts. The reason to conduct this exercise was to stop expired food stuff and spoiled food stuff coming to the market, he added.
From April 2nd -12th CAA will be conducting raids around the country. During these raids they would not only check the places selling food items, but places selling clothes, electrical items and essential goods as well. “We want to encourage the businessmen to sell quality goods and stop the fraudulent trading.”
Minister Bathiudeen said that, they would not allow anybody to cheat the consumers. The traders, who cheat the consumers would be dealt severely despite of their position as all businesses come under the CAA Act.
CAA chairman Hasitha Thilakaratna said that they have already started the raids around the country.
He said people should be aware of the consumer laws and if any person is violating the law they can call 1977, the hot line of the CAA.
He said, during the festive season another problem faced by the CAA is that people posing as CAA officials take bribes and money from the traders and the CAA requested the consumers and the traders to be aware and report such incidents to the CAA.