Cheating Consumers:

Merchants fined Rs 801,500

Nihal JAYAWARDENA

Merchants who had been cheating consumers by various ways, have been fined a sum of Rs 801,500 by Courts in Kandy, Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Panwila and Theldeniya.

The Courts had ordered nearly 176 merchants to pay the fines as they were found guilty of not displaying price tags of the product, overpricing, sub standard products, products of which the dates have expired, and products with no guarantee. According to the Consumer Protection Act No. 9 of 2003, the reasons were punishable.

The Kandy Consumer Affairs Authority had carried out raids from January to March 15 this year and arrested and charged the merchants around Kandy.