CAA fines in 26 days total Rs 2.6 million

Irangika RANGE

The Consumer Affairs Authority earned Rs.2.6 million in fines between July 1 and July 26.

CAA's Spokesman told the Daily News that their flying squad identified 1,000 unfair trade practices of traders who violated the CAA Act No. 9 of 2003 during this period. "We will produce these errant traders before their respective Magistrate Courts in the near future," he said.

He said that the CAA has already taken legal action on 883 unfair trade practices of businessmen found in raid during the period from June 1 to July 1. "We commenced the raids to nab errant traders who engaged in deceptive conduct and unfair trade practices," he said.

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando instructed the CAA officials to increase the numbers of raids across the country including the North and East.

The CAA had conducted islandwide raids during that period on traders selling essential food items above the controlled prices, selling items with expired dates, not exhibiting price lists, and not giving guarantee period. In addition, the CAA conducted 79 raids to nab errant traders during the annual Kataragama Esala Perahera festival.