Govt. to amend Consumer Protection Act to enhance safeguards: Bandula

• Trade Minister says Parliament Act lacks teeth to protect consumers
• Current law came into effect in 1979

The Consumer Protection Act is to be amended shortly to give stronger legal protection to consumers and deal sternly and promptly with those violating their rights, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardana told Parliament yesterday.

He said that the Act, which came into effect is 1979, does not have adequate teeth to protect the rights of consumers.

He said that for example, there were many cases where paddy is being hoarded and sold at higher rates, but the present act does not provide adequate penalties for such offenders. The Minister disclosed the information in reply to a question raised by SLPP MP Mohammed Muzammil.

The Minister also said that due to the high price of coconut oil, the Government has undertaken a program to grow soya and produce oil so as to supplement coconut oil.

“The soya oil will be sold through Lanka Sathosa outlets at a lower price than at other outlets,” he said.