Errant traders nabbed in Pettah

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Measurement Units, Standards and Services Department (MUSD) and Colombo District Secretariat yesterday arrested 14 traders on charges of cheating consumers by using false weights and measures.

They were arrested along with with fake measuring equipment and weights while selling goods to customers near Pettah public bus stand and Bodhiraja Mawatha, Cooperatives and Internal Trade Ministry sources said.

Sources said, the ministry has deployed MUSD sleuths throughout the island to protect consumers against errant traders under a special programme launched by Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando to minimize frauds against consumers.

The suspects arrested yesterday for cheating consumers have been released on personal bail. They will be produced before Courts in May, ministry sources said.