Errant traders forewarned:
Goods aplenty during festive season
by Uditha KUMARASINGHE
Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said the
Ministry will ensure an uninterrupted supply of commodities for
consumers during the festive season.
There
will be no room for traders to increase the prices of commodities or
create an artificial shortage in the market. Consumers could purchase
all commodities through the countrywide network of CWE outlets,
Co-operatives and Co-op Cities, Minister told the Sunday Observer.
The Minister said that orders had been placed by the final week of
February for all commodities needed for the CWE, Co-operatives and Co-op
Cities for the festive season.
The prices of all commodities in Co-operatives, Co-op cities and the
CWE outlets are comparatively low compared to those in the private
sector.
Minister Fernando said that after he took office he ensured no
shortage of commodities in any Co-op City, Co-operative or CWE outlet.
At present there are sufficient stocks of commodities at Co-op
Cities, Co-operatives and CWE outlets.
The Minister said he had directed the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA)
to conduct raids on errant traders who sell expired and underweight
goods and increase the prices of goods haphazardly exceeding their
marked price. The CAA had increased the number of raids to 40,000, a
eight-fold increase.
The CAA has been directed to conduct continuous raids during the
festive season, from supermarkets to boutiques in the villages. This is
not a move against the traders but an attempt to show traders how they
should conduct themself in a more disciplined manner, he said. |