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Saturday, 11 April 2015 01:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on a price inspection tour of Lanka Sathosa outlet
In view of the forthcoming New Year season, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has instructed the Consumers Affairs Authority (CAA) under him to take all relevant measures so that consumers do not feel any discomfort – and re-structuring efforts of Lanka Sathosa has brought results! “CAA and I strongly warn sellers, warehouses, stores and supermarkets not to tamper labels and change prices, expiry date in any way,” said Bathiudeen. Minister Bathiudeen was addressing his top officials about the New Year measures by CAA and Lanka Sathosa under his Ministry on 8 April. CAA is the apex state organisation to protect consumers’ interests and ensure fair market competition. It conducts market investigations, and also mandated on consumer education, pricing and management, competition and promotion. “The Government led by President Maithripala Sirisena, to give the Lankan consumers a better retail market experience during the coming New Year season, is ensuring continuous supply of all essential items and stocks to warehouses across the country, by taking various measures,” said Minister Bathiudeen. “We have strengthened the detections of errant traders by increasing the number of CAA detection officials and from January to 7 April, we made 5,500 detections across the country, of which 1,500 alone reported from 1 to 7 April. Our efforts on New Year season started from mid-March. We are continuously visiting all private and public warehouses and stores to ensure there are no damaged or unsuitable items packed in them. We want to see clean warehouses. “CAA and I strongly warn sellers, warehouses, stores and supermarkets to not to tamper labels and change prices, expiry date etc in any way. If we find such tampering, a fine of Rs. 10,000 and six months’ imprisonment to any sole business-owner would be the result and up-to Rs. 100,000 fine for private firms and supermarkets. More and more sellers are selling essential items at reduced prices as per the Budget and this is good news. We also ask the consumers not to buy products that do not identify the producer or importer. We have been informed that at some fashion and cloth sales stores, outdated clothes are on sale for the season saying they are brand new – this too is illegal. “We are keeping the hotline 1977 open and any affected consumer can call and report to us immediately. I am also pleased of Lanka Sathosa’s strong sales performance. In March 2015, Lanka Sathosa reported Rs. 3.2 billion monthly sales which is a great increase compared to March 2014’s Rs 2.1 billion monthly sales. This shows that changing the Lanka Sathosa supplier system and introducing a wider supplier base as well as price reduction of essential food items as per the interim budget of the President have started to work,” he added. The Budget 2015 presented by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake brought relief to the consumer by reducing prices of certain essential items – one litre of kerosene reduced by Rs. 6, a kilo of sugar reduced by Rs. 10, a packet of 400 gram milk powder reduced to Rs. 325, tax on wheat flour reduced by 10%, bringing wheat flour prices down by Rs. 12.50 and a loaf of bread by Rs. 6.
