CAA seeks public help to nab parasitic traders

Ruwanthi ABEYAKOON

PRICE CONTROL: Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) plans to control rising prices. "The prices are rising and it is inevitable due to external conditions. Even in England the fuel price is rising. The President and the Government of Sri Lanka are highly concerned about this," Sarath Wijesinghe, Chairman CAA told the Daily News yesterday.

Wijesinghe said the mandate of the CAA is to pave the way for the consumer to obtain healthy food of high standard at a reasonable price." It is a right of the consumer to purchase goods at a moderate price.

The traditional price control system cannot be applied at present. Under Act No 9 of 2003 a new concept was introduced and the previous price control system was replaced by a monitoring and regulatory process," he explained.

"At this point CAA has a role to play.This is to be carried out with the assistance of the public. If the traders or industrialists increase prices CAA should be informed by fax, post, phone or e-mail. I earnestly request not to increase prices. Had they done so immediate steps will be taken to bring them before the law," Wijesinghe pointed out.

Wijesinghe also said that Consumer Affairs Councils should be implemented to investigate the violations of the Consumer Act.