Govt doubles Consumer Protection Force for price controls

Government this week started to enforce new protection measures to safeguard consumers from increasing price control issues in the domestic market, a statement from Ministry of Industry and Commerce said.
 
“The Investigation Officers’ Force of Consumer Affairs Authority ensures good practices in the retail markets to safeguard our 21 million consumers” Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said while addressing the Consumer Affairs Authority event at Vauxhall Street January 21 where 62 new Investigation Officers (IO) were appointed by him to the existing IO force. Joining Minister Bathiudeen were newly appointed Secretary to Ministry of Industry and Commerce Chinthana Lokuhetti and CAA Chairman Hasitha Tillekeratne.
                                                                                             
Minister Bathiudeen added that as the apex state organisation serving Sri Lanka’s consumer interests, Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) shoulders the huge responsibility of safeguarding the Consumers and Investigation Officers’ Force of CAA ensures good practices in the retail markets to safeguard 21 million consumers.

“Today we are appointing another 62 new Investigation Officers (IO) bringing the total IO force to 250 island-wide. Before end of 2017 I will appoint another 200 or more IOs and will double our IO force so that we can increase our consumer protection raids and ensure stronger controls on errant traders as per the good governance vision of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.”  he said.
 
In 2016, CAA carried out 21819 raids, and filed 21000 court cases. CAA netted Rs 90 Million from fines imposed in 2016, a huge 33% increase over its fines collected in 2015.  CAA is the apex government organization mandated to protect consumers’ interests and ensure fair market competition in Sri Lanka.