CAA conducts more than 10,000 consumer protection raids

• Kurunegala, Kegalle and Colombo top offenders
• 2016 1H raid totals similar to 2015 1H totals
• 1H fines at Rs. 47.7 m
• Fine collections up by 55%

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) hit more than 10,000 raids in the first half (1H) of 2016 and increased its fine collections by a strong 55%, latest data showed.

According to the CAA data of July, raids conducted by the CAA teams from January to June this year totalled 10,146 and is steady, showing only a marginal decline from 2015’s first half (1H) total of 10,162.

This year 1H’s highest monthly raids are reported in the pre-New Year season; in March at 1874 while the lowest raids (2016 1H) took place in June at 1468.

CAA officials inspect a consumer cargo load in transit in Colombo. 

A similar monthly pattern was seen in last year raids as well.

The three leading regions this year are Districts of Kurunegala (1464 raids), Kegalle (1,305 raids) and Kandy (1,286 raids). The lowest raids this year has been reported from Hambantota District (680).

This year 1H’s collected total fines were Rs. 45.7 million, a strong 55% increase from last year 1H’s Rs. 29.3 million. Districts of Colombo (Rs. 4.1 m), Jaffna (Rs. 3 m) and Kurunegala (Rs. 3 m) topped this year’s fines list with Hambantota (Rs. 1 million) being the lowest.

Vavuniya is at exact mid-spot with Rs. 2.1 million fines.

Among the offences on which raids were made are sale of food products not fit for consumption, non-display of prices and not issuing warranties for electrical items.