A supermarket in Beruwala has been fined Rs. 1 million by the Kalutara Magistrate’s Court for selling locally produced Keeri Samba rice above the government‑mandated Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) revealed that the outlet was selling rice at Rs. 355 per kilogram, far exceeding the gazetted MRP of Rs. 260 per kilogram. 

During a raid, officers found 5kg packs priced at Rs. 1,775, well above the legal limit.

Legal action was initiated by CAA’s Kalutara District Investigative Officers, and when the case was taken up, the defendants pleaded guilty to violating the Consumer Affairs Authority Act. The court imposed the fine on July 17.

The CAA has urged consumers to remain vigilant, check the printed MRP when purchasing essential goods, and report traders charging above the controlled price or selling substandard and expired food products to its hotline 1977. (Newswire/ AI Image)

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 300,000 on a Chinese supermarket located on R.A. De Mel Mawatha in Colombo 03, found guilty of violating provisions of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Act.

According to the CAA, the Court also ordered the destruction of all goods produced as case property.

The ruling followed legal action instituted by the CAA after investigators uncovered multiple violations during a special raid.

The trader was found to have offered goods for sale without marked prices, failed to maintain supplier invoices and receipts, and sold items that lacked mandatory label information, including the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), manufacturer/importer details, and other legally required particulars.

The CAA stressed that such practices mislead and deceive consumers, undermining fair trade.

Consumers are urged to report violations such as overpricing, failure to display prices, or sale of goods without mandatory labels to the CAA hotline 1977. (Newswire/ AI image)

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A 47‑year‑old female lawyer was arrested last night at a Ratmalana supermarket while attempting to steal several items, according to the Mount Lavinia Headquarters Police.

According to media reports, the suspect was caught yesterday (18) with 520 grams of chicken, 250 grams of beef, roasted cashew, a toothbrush, and a lunch sheet packet, all valued at Rs. 5,290, hidden inside her handbag. 

CCTV footage had earlier recorded her secretly placing the goods under the guise of shopping, prompting the supermarket to alert police.

Officers acted immediately, and a female police officer checked the suspect’s handbag as she was leaving the premises, recovering the stolen items. 

Investigations further revealed that the same lawyer had stolen fish from the supermarket the previous day (17) in a similar manner.

Although her lawyer’s ID card carried a Pannipitiya address, police confirmed she is a resident of Ratmalana. 

The Mount Lavinia Headquarters Police are continuing investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on Monday (18) imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on a popular supermarket in Mulleriyawa after it was found guilty of overcharging consumers on imported Keeri Ponni rice.

Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) officers from the Colombo District Office uncovered the violation during a raid, revealing that the supermarket was selling rice at Rs. 30 above the stipulated Maximum Retail Price (MRP) per kilo. 

The owner pleaded guilty in court, after which the fine was imposed. 

The CAA has reminded the public that traders cannot exploit consumers by inflating prices of essential goods. 

They urged shoppers to always check the printed MRP, request receipts, and report violations to the CAA hotline 1977. (Newswire/ AI Image)

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The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today (05) imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on a supermarket in Wellawatte for selling rice above the government‑stipulated Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

According to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), the stipulated MRP for one kilogram of local Nadu rice is Rs. 230. 

However, the supermarket was found to be selling it at Rs. 320 per kilo, overcharging consumers by Rs. 90.

The CAA said the detection was made during its continuous island‑wide enforcement operations conducted to curb traders who exploit consumers by inflating rice prices.

Urging consumers to always check the printed MRP when purchasing essential goods, the CAA reminded the public never to pay more than the stipulated price.

The public is requested to report violations immediately with proof, while complaints can be lodged via the CAA hotline 1977. (Newswire/ AI image)

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Based on complaints received in 2022, the Consumer Affairs Authority conducted an investigation into a supermarket in the Seeduwa area suspected of selling brown sugar that may have been artificially colored. 

Samples were sent to a laboratory for testing, and the lab reports confirmed that the brown sugar did not comply with Sri Lankan standards. 

As a result, a case was filed in the Negombo Magistrate’s Court in 2023 under two charges: displaying and offering non-compliant brown sugar for sale. 

The Court yesterday imposed a fine of Rs. 400,000 after the supermarket had pleaded guilty. (Newswire)

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A Police Sub-Inspector has been arrested on charges of stealing items worth Rs. 650 from a supermarket in the Kiribathkumbura area in Peradeniya.

It is reported that the Police officer arrested yesterday was attached to the Peradeniya Police Station. 

The suspect who had been purchasing various items at the supermarket was found to have stolen a tea packet and a small shampoo bottle, pocketing them, which had been caught on the CCTV cameras installed at the supermarket.

Security officials at the supermarket had inspected the Police officer, after which he had been handed over to the Police along with the stolen items. 

According to the Police, the suspect is a Police Officer expected to retire in another two years. (Newswire)

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A female doctor has been arrested on charges of having allegedly stolen dry rations worth Rs. 5000 from a supermarket.

According to media reports, the Kiribathgoda Police arrested the doctor in Makola on Monday (Aug 19).

She was seized by the security officials at the supermarket when she attempted to leave the supermarket with a Rs. 1700 tea leaves packet. 

After being handed over to the management, supermarket officials inspected her bag and found three chocolates, a milk powder tin, and a packet of sausages. 

The female doctor, who is attached to a state hospital in the area and is a 54-year-old resident of Kelaniya, had been handed over to the Kiribathgoda Police. 

During investigations, it was also found that she had a history of having stolen things belonging to the hospital management. 

The woman was produced at the Mahara Magistrate’s Court after which she was released on a surety of Rs. 200,000. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police say staff of retail stores and supermarkets do not have the right to assault suspects of theft.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa requested the staff of retail stores and supermarkets to hand over such suspects to the nearest Police station.

He stated that the staff cannot assault suspects of theft, while the police are there to investigate the theft of goods.

Pointing out that people cannot take the law into their own hands, SSP Thalduwa requested Managers of supermarkets to brief their staff in this regard. 

The Police Spokesman’s remarks come after video footage of staff of a prominent supermarket chain in Cotta Road, Borella assaulting a woman for having stolen goods was recently circulated on social media platforms.

Addressing the incident, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that actions of the supermarket staff were unacceptable. 

In the event of a theft at the supermarket, he stated assault is not the solution, advising supermarket staff to inform their outlet security officials and apprehend the suspect, and thereafter handover him/her to the Police.

SSP Thalduwa said the female assaulted by the supermarket staff in Borella is a 25-year-old resident of Hanwella and is reportedly severely addicted to drugs.

He added that the suspect had stolen goods at the supermarket to purchase drugs and that there were several cases against her for having stolen goods at various places.

Meanwhile, at least seven staff of the said supermarket have been apprehended, while the retail supermarket chain has launched an investigation into the incident. (NewsWire)

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