CAA notches record fines from errant traders

by Carol Aloysius

Daily raids conducted islandwide has earned a bonanza in fines for the Consumer Affairs Authority ( CAA).

"We increased our routine raids to daily raids after the gazette notification announcing the reduced prices of 13 essential consumer items in January this year.

Fines on errant traders now vary from from1,000 -10,000 for individual traders and 10,000- 100,000 forcompanies. The CAA earned over 8 million for the country's revenue for this year alone by way of such fines", Director Information, CAA, Chandrika Thilekeratne told the Sunday Observer. The highest fines were collected in February ( Rs 2.9 million.) In January fines amounted to Rs 2.4 million and in March 2.6 million.

She said the CAA had deployed all its officers to inspect retail and wholesale outlets in towns, villages and rural areas, with Regional Directors monitoring their activities.

Deputy Director Regional, CAA, Asela Bandara said a special program had also been launched ahead of the New Year next month where in addition to popular new year gifts such as ready made textiles, washing machines, fridges, rice cookers , mobile phones and other electronic gadgets, food items used for traditional new year sweetmeats would come under strict scrutiny.

" We will be specially looking at the 13 reduced food items, as previous experience has shown us that this time around bulk vendors are apt to re-label and falsify labels and sell sub quality adulterated food items", he said..