Action plan for 2007
WE inform the consumers, manufacturers, traders and industrialists
that there will be a lot of conceptual and administrative changes in due
course.
The rate of activism in many areas will be increased aiming at
results. We genuinely understand the feelings of the consumers on the
prices of consumer goods and services.
It is true that in reality and as a concept, generally prices of
goods and services will go up.
It is the duty of the government, the authority and those who are
concerned to control the price and to make adjustments to ease the
burden of the consumer. Local and international organizations and
conventions have repeatedly reiterated this concept for which we are
bound to act upon.
It is only by joint efforts of all the key players that we can
achieve our target. We are taking part at the “Deyata Kirula” exhibition
at BMICH from February 4 to 9 where we have organised a consumer and
legal clinic with other projects such as Street Dramas, and other events
in the course of awareness programmes.
We look forward to organize the World Consumer Day on March 15 in a
grand scale.
The programme we have launched so far to educate the business
community is a tremendous success. We invite the traders, especially
Colombo - Pettah traders to take part at the orientation seminar on 14th
February 2007.
We will keep the public informed of the current changes and the plan
of action of future programmes inviting the public to communicate with
us in order to achieve our objectives in the interests of the public at
large. Some of the projects are:
* Establishment of Consumer Courts
* Scheme for Registration of Traders
* Publicity on Better Food and Health Habits
* Strengthening the regional set up
* Network connection with international institutions
* Expand and sustain the Consumer Society Network
* Launch of Consumer Education Schemes
* Closer Monitoring and Dealing with Consumer Deceptions
Sarath Wijesinghe,
Chairman,
Consumer Affairs Authority
Trade Minister visits Consumer Affairs Authority
MINISTER of Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer
Services Bandula Gunawardena paid a visit to the Consumer Affairs
Authority (CAA) on last Friday. The Minister was accompanied by Dr. R.
M. K. Ratnayake, Secretary to the Ministry.
At a special meeting of the staff officers of the CAA arranged at the
auditorium to receive the Minister, CAA Chairman Sarath Wijesinghe
welcomed him and thereafter proceeded to introduce the officials and
briefed their duties and responsibilities.
In the course of the discussions that followed, the Minister sought
certain clarifications and observed that the rule of the CAA and its
existence should be felt by the people at village level, so that they
would feel that there is an organisation to look after their interests.
It is through this process that the confidence and support of the
people for the activities of the CAA could be harnessed. The Minister
also said that he would meet the staff shortly in order to get an
indepth knowledge of the entire activities vis-a-vis the provisions of
the Act No. 9 of 2003.
He further said efforts have to be made to see whether the CAA could
manage its affairs without depending on the Treasury for capital
expenditure.
Questions and Answers
Q 1. Can the Consumer Affairs Authority undertake campaigns to
raise the awareness of consumers?
A. Yes. It is one of the functions of the Authority and is
states in the Act as “to keep consumers informed about the quality,
quantity, potency, purity, standards and price of goods and services
made available for purchases.”
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Q2. If so what is your target group?
A. The term CONSUMER is often understood as individuals who
are consuming products and services. However, companies (manufacturing
companies as well as service companies) and public and private
organisations, including governments are also consumers.
Such institutional consumers are many times larger than individual
consumers and can influence the market situation for sustainable
products services significantly.
Consumption of any specific service or product almost always involves
a wide range of stakeholders. Most people tend to interpret
“consumption” as the food we eat and the things we use.
The things what we use also include services such as housing,
transport, healthcare, information etc. Apart from consumers, there are
normally producers, distributors, authorities, investors, Interest
organisations etc. that all have an interest on consumption. In addition
producers, civil society organisations and Governments can also be
considered consumers of raw materials, services and information in
different ways.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended that all stakeholder groups are
given an opportunity to take an active part in, or at least influence
the consumption efforts that affect them.
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Q3. What is awareness raising?
A. Raising the public’s understanding and awareness of the
meaning and importance of unsustainable consumption, offering them
alternatives in order to pursue better lifestyles.
Director
Competition Promotion, CAA
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