National Consumer Network launched

By Devin Jaysundera

The National Consumer Network, a collective platform consisting of civil society, experts and professionals to voice concerns on consumer rights and issues, was launched recently.

Speaking at the launch, Public Utilities Commission Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe stated the function of a regulating agency was to balance the power relationship between the consumer and the service provider. 

“To determine an equitable outcome, the regulating agency should know the consumer point of view in terms of price and quality standard for a given product or service,” said Kumarasinghe. “A complementary relationship between the consumer and the regulating agency is essential to uphold consumer rights.”

Referring to the marginalisation of the voice of the consumer in public consultation meetings, Kumarasinghe said: “Currently the voice of the consumer is only limited to a few powerful consumer lobby groups consisting of manufacturers and hoteliers. The voice of the common consumer is rarely heard in these consultative committees. This makes it difficult for regulating agencies to identify the actual needs of the consumer.”

Consumer Affairs Director General D. Arandara praising the much-needed establishment of the National Consumer Network said: “Many pressure groups were fragmented and acting in isolation. Their demands did not lead to a favourable outcome.”

According to Arandara, the major hurdle in safeguarding consumer rights is the lack of a legal framework to enforce these quality standards. “The Sri Lanka Standards Institute can issue high quality certifications for any product, but it does do not have the legal power to enforce these standards.”

He insisted that the National Consumer Network should pioneer the discourse on a national policy for standards and regulations. 

“There are 54 regulating agencies in the country with regard to protecting the rights of the consumer. Out of that 16 of them are directly related with our basic needs. But as consumers we are not aware about these institutions,” said Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) Chairman Asoka Abeygunawardana. 

The regulating agencies have not been able to collaborate with consumers, thus failing to ensure the protection of the rights of the consumer, according to Abeygunawardana. 

“Civil societies have been instrumental in protesting and bringing change in the short term but a constructive programme has not been established in advancing a long-term development of the consumer.”

Pic by Lasantha Kumara