24 traders nabbed for selling rice at higher prices

Colombo: Twenty four traders who sold samba rice at Rs.85 per kilo were taken to court yesterday by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).

Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardhana told the Daily News that the Government stipulated maximum retail price for samba rice is Rs.70 (per kilo). These traders have breached the state directive with the intention of earning additional profits, he said.

He said that the CAA is committed to take stern action against errant traders who sell rice higher than the state stipulated maximum retail prices. Under this mechanism, the Government has stipulated maximum retail prices for samba, nadu, white kekulu and red kekulu respectively at Rs.70, Rs.65, Rs.55 and Rs.65. He said one errant trader in Colombo 11 was raided by the CAA officials for selling rice at Rs.85 (per kilo) . He was produced before the Magistrates Court in Maligakanda yesterday and fined Rs.8000.

He said that the selling rice at a higher prices, creating unnecessary shortage by concealing rice stocks, not displaying price tags, selling rice imposing unnecessary conditions and refusing to sell rice are punishable offenses under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act no 9 of 2003.

The CAA has conducted over 100 raids in Pettah, Borella, Rajagiriya, Thimbirigasyaya, Nugegoda, Weliveriya, Gampaha, and Negombo in both July and August. Fifty raids out of 100 are related to rice offences.