Consumer Affairs

CAA celebrates World Consumer Rights Day in Kandy

March 15 is World Consumer Rights Day, and the Consumer Affairs Authority has commemorated the annual event every year since the inception of this Authority.

The celebration of this world event during the past few years, was held on a different note, keeping with the tradition of typical Sri Lankan festivals, with dramas, art exhibitions and talks on general topics on the subject of Consumer Protection.

Last year the CAA aligned the commemorative agenda with the world theme for that year ‘Unethical Promotion of Drugs’. This year the world theme is ‘Junk Food Generation - Meet for Action.’

In the past the celebrations were centred in Colombo. However, the present Board of Directors of the CAA headed by Rummy Marzook, the Chairman decided to reach the consumers in the outstations. Accordingly, the celebrations will be held at the Trinity College Auditorium in Kandy on March 15.

The celebrations will commence at 1 p.m. with the welcome speech by Kandy District Secretary S.M. Gotabhaya Jayantha, which will be followed by the introductory talk by the CAA Chairman. Thereafter, Dr. (Mrs) Ajantha Perera, a member of the CAA Board of Directors will deliver the keynote address on the world theme of the Consumer Day ‘Junk Food Generation - need for Action.’

There will be a special speech by Ven. Dr. Vijithapura Wimalaratna Thera attached to the Colombo University on the subject ‘Managing Inflation at Household Level’.

Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Bandula Gunawardena will be the chief guest while Minister of Consumer Affairs H.R. Mithrapala and Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake will be the special guests.

There will also be a stage drama.

Chandrika Thilakaratne, Director, Consumer Affairs and Information, CAA will deliver the vote of thanks.

Consumer Court in action

The establishment of a special court to deal exclusively with Consumer Affairs has been a dream since the introduction of a separate Ministry for Consumer Affairs in 2003.

A Consumer Court has become a reality under the present Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Bandula Gunawardana with the co-operation of Minister of Justice Amarasiri Dodangoda.

The court was opened on March 4 at the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court No.5 by Chief Justice Sarath N Silva with the participation of Ministers Amarasiri Dodangoda, Bandula Gunawardana and H.R. Mithrapala.

The establishment of a separate court will facilitate a faster and an effective adjudicating system in respect of consumer matters.

World consumer rights

1. The right to satisfaction of basic needs - To have access to buy essential goods and services: adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, public utilities, water and sanitation.

2. The right to safety - To be protected against products, products processes and services which are hazardous to health or life.

3. The right to be informed - To be given the facts needed to make informed choice, and to be protected against dishonest of mislead advertising and labelling.

4. The right to choose - To be able to select from a range of products and services, offered at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.

5. The right to be heard - To have consumer interests represented in the making and execution of government policy, and in the development of products and services.

6. The right to redress - To receive a fair settlement of just claim including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.

7. The right to consumer education - To acquire knowledge and skills needed to make informed, confident choices about goods and services, while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them.