Consumer protection, CPA' s prime concern

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHCI

Sunil Sirisena

Dr. Leel Gunasekera

The Government is always concerned about the consumer. The Consumer Protection Authority was set up to work for the benefit of the consumers, said Cooperatives and Internal Trade Ministry Secretary, Sunil Sirisena.

Situations such as price hikes, contaminated foods and the scarcity of essential food items have an alarming impact on the consumers.

The Sunday Observer interviewed key officials in the public and private sector to highlights consumer problems.

Internal Trade Ministry Secretary, Sunil Sirisena

Q: The engine of some vehicles were reported to have been damaged after using substandard petrol imported by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) during the past two weeks. Did Trade Ministry or the Consumer Protection Authority take any action?

A: The Trade Ministry or the Consumer Protection Authority does not distinguish whether it is public or private sector organisation. Our main concern lies with the consumer were necessary we will not hesitate to take stern action against the culprits under the consumer protection - rules and regulations.

W.P.M.P. Roshan - Media Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Industries

Q: Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha appointed a committee to entertain complaints about the vehicles alleged to have been damaged due to using substandard petrol. What is the outcome of that committee?

A: We have received over 800 complaints so far and they are being scrutinised by a team of experts.

Undoubtedly the compensation for the damaged vehicles will be paid by the CPC as directed by the minister.

Village Fair

Q: Complaints were received only from Colombo City and the suburbs?

A: No. We received complaints from all over the country largely from Colombo and its suburbs.

Q: Could you explain what really went wrong?

A: There is no doubt that the petrol in question supplied by a company registered in Singapore was not upto the standard. We do not rule out sabotage since oil supplies to CPC is a very lucrative and competitive business.

Q: Did the Petroleum Industries Minister take action against those responsible?

A: The three member committee chaired by Power and Energy Ministry Secretary H.M.C. Ferdinand was appointed to investigate whether any fraud had taken place in the import of petrol. Other members of the committee are former Oil Refinery Division Deputy Manager W.R.A. Piyasena and CPC Marketing Manager S.M.G.P. Samarakoon. The payment for the 20000 MT of Petrol was also suspended by the minister, Former Petroleum Industries Ministry Secretary Titus Jayawardena who was the acting Chairman CPC during whose tenure the 20000 MT of petrol had been imported has since transferred to the public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry.

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Dr. Leel Gunasekera - Founder Chairman of Federation of Consumer Associations of Sri Lanka (FOCAS)

Q: The people had high regard to public institutions such as Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Electricity Board and State Banks in the past.

The situation has since changed. Now there is the allegation that vehicles were damaged after using substandard petrol imported by CPC. How do you look at this difference.

A: This negative change has reflected on the whole social set up in Sri Lanka. Decades ago the people had great faith in the state bodies and the public servants were held in high esteem.

Q: As a former senior administrator and also a writer, have you any proposals to improve the lot of the low income sectors specially in rural areas.

A: Before the Consumer Protection Authority was set up, Ministry of Trade appointed a committee consisting of Dr. Saman Kalegama, presently head of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and Lawyer Yohan Casichetty to study the consumer situation in Sri Lanka in 1994.

The Committee presented a comprehensive report to the government having probed into the subject.

The two important recommendations of the committee were, set up of a voluntary consumer federation and a Consumer Protection Authority to advise the Trade Ministry.

The Federation of Consumer Associations of Sri Lanka (FOCAS) was set up at a meeting held on the initiatives of Dr. Saman Kalegama and then Fair Trade Commission Chairman Jayantha Pathirana.

This Federation actively participated in all consumer matters islandwide.

Q: Do you feel that the Federation registered under the Ministry of Defence should be re-activated for the benefit of the consumers?

A: A mechanism such as FOCAS should be reactivated to meet the overall consumer needs such as those relating to essential food items.