Mobile services to educate consumers on unfair trade practices

Irangika RANGE

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has formulated a special mechanism to educate consumers on unfair trade practices by certain traders during the festive season.

This follows a special request by Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardhana.

Minister Gunawardhana speaking to the Daily News said that this program will be conducted through a series of mobile services from today. As a first step a mobile vehicle will be parked at the Vaxuall Street today to provide information of the consumers on the unfair trading practices such as the selling rice at a higher prices, creating unnecessary shortage by hoarding stocks, not displaying price tags, etc. which are punishable offenses under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003," the Minister stressed.

Hereafter, the mobile vehicle will be shifted to the Dedicated Economic Center in Narahenpita by 4.30 p.m.

"We invite all consumers to handover their complaints to the mobile service," the Minister said. These complaints will be handled by the Consumer Complaints Bureau established under the CAA to provide a better and a speedier service to the consumers," Minister said.

The mobile services will be conducted closer to the Dedicated Economic Centers, Sathosa outlets and main bus stands in Colombo to provide easy access to consumers. The program will be expanded to other parts of the country by adding more vehicles to the service," he pointed out.

"Apart from conducting awareness programs for the general public, the CAA is engaged in conducting trade awareness programs to educate traders on the compliance of the provisions of the CAA Act and good business practices.