CAA earns Rs.50 m in fines from errant traders

Ridma Dissanayake

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) had earned around Rs.50 million in fines from errant traders following islandwide raids conducted from January 1 to June 15, Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said.

“In all ,16,788 business establishments had violated rules and regulations of the ministry. In 2011, the CAA conducted around 40,000 raids,” the minister said.

“These efforts are not to put the traders into trouble, but, to provide a good service for the local consumers, “he added.

“The CAA has conducted raids on cement producers and seized 7,500 bags of substandard cement, 125 re-filled cement bags and 8,500 bags of cement which had the manufacturing details changed,”the minister explained.

“The CAA at present conducts around 4,000 monthly raids on government and private sector institutions without any bias,” Minister Fernando said.

“Traders and transporters failing to adhere to the crate law will also be subject to spot fines instead of been subject to legal action which is a long drawn out procedure, “he said.

“We have already made 18 trade associations aware of the ministry’s rules and regulations. All measures are in place to make school students aware about this subject.”, Minister Fernando said.

The minister also thanked the media for giving publicity to CAA raids and consumer awareness programmes.