CAA uses Twitter, new flying squad for speedier price, info respite

Tuesday, 17 February 2015 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

‘Errant traders and supermarkets punished’- CAA Chairman
CAA Special Flying Squad now active 24x7
Critical talks with Cement Industry this Wednesday
Consumer Twitter service to be created
Says Canteen Association lowers cuppa price

In a bid to speed up consumer relief announced during the recent interim budget, Sri Lanka’s consumer guardian, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) is readying itself for critical talks with top product suppliers. “I have started a special flying squad operating not only at daytime but even at night; 24 hours. We warn errant traders and supermarkets that court action against violations will be prompt and mandatory,” CAA Chairman Rumy Marzook said yesterday in Colombo. Marzook was speaking to top CAA officials at the CAA headquarters at Vauxhall Street in Colombo. The CAA is the apex government organisation mandated to protect consumer interests and ensure fair market competition in Sri Lanka.

“Sixteen essential items, five are given maximum retail prices - rice, cement, domestic gas, wheat flour, and milk powder. Any violation of MRP excesses results in court action. Some other products such as bread, sugar and lentils do not have an MRP but their price needs to be displayed by the vendor and also should be sold at exact weight, a violation of which results in court action again,” Marzook stated. “We see that sellers and vendors gradually reduce prices but there is much more to be done since many are yet to comply. We also find repeat offenders among vendors. Therefore I have started a special flying squad, in addition to our 300 strong regular detection team. This squad operates not only at daytime but even at night. In the five days since its inception, it has netted 20 offenders and we have forwarded them to the legal authorities for further action. The general public is hereby requested to contact us even late at night if they find such price violations. Our hotline, 1977, is always open. “Furthermore, the All Ceylon Canteen Owners Association and Consumer Movement has, at their meeting with us, informed us that they will reduce the selling price of a cup of milk tea to Rs. 25 (MRP) and a plain tea to Rs. 10 (MRP) following sugar, milk powder, VAT and gas price reduction in the recent Budget as per the vision of President Maithripala Sirisena. The Budget also announced that cement prices would be reduced by around Rs. 90 and cement sellers, who have not been compliant on this, are gradually starting to reduce prices. Lanka Cement Corp has reduced its Kankesan Cement brand’s price and now a 50 kg bag is sold at the reduced price of Rs. 830 from 13 February. We asked cement sellers and importers to make representations with their prices along with invoices and four have already submitted; eight more are to send us the details. “We also obtained cement import details for January from the Customs and are analysing them now. We are meeting cement industry stakeholders this Wednesday to agree on a final pricing based on our analysis. To promptly inform Sri Lankans of latest product prices, a twitter service is now being worked out so that we reach consumers online too so that we are working at multiple levels, both offline and online.” The Interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake on 29 January removed taxes on 13 essential goods - Sugar (Rs. 10), Milk powder 400 g packet (Rs 61), Sustagen milk powder (Rs. 100), wheat flour (Rs. 12.50 per kilo), Bread (Rs. 6), Green grams (Rs. 40 per kilo), Sprats (Rs. 15), Canned fish (Rs. 60), Coriander (Rs. 60 per kilo), Black gram by Rs. 100 per kilo), Maldive fish (Rs. 200), Turmeric (Rs. 100 per kilo), Chilli powder (Rs. 25). Furthermore, a 12.5 kg gas cylinder was reduced by Rs. 300.