Move to nab errant traders

Suraj A Bandara

The Government will offer incentives to investigators of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to encourage them to nab errant traders and prevent artificial shortage of essential commodities.

Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said the CAA investigators will receive an incentive of the revenue obtained by the authority through raids.

The Minister said that he discussed the granting of an incentive with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, the Minister has instructed the CAA officials to increase the number of raids to 70,000 per year and said that every facility would be provided for the officials.

The objective of the scheme would be to protect the consumer and create a decent trade culture.

The Minister said legal action will be taken against errant traders who attempt to create a rice shortage after the flood in the country.

Over 450 raids have been carried out by the CAA to find if any rice consignment is hidden and sell over stipulated price in last four days.