The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has imposed fines totaling Rs. 300,000 on three private companies in Colombo for breaching consumer protection laws, following legal action by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).
According to the CAA, each firm was fined Rs. 100,000 after being found guilty of violations including failure to display prices and the sale of imported food without mandatory information such as importer details and the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The cases involved outlets in Colpetty, Bambalapitiya, and Colombo 03.
The CAA has stressed that price transparency is essential for consumers to make informed choices and to prevent arbitrary or unfair pricing practices.
Importer information, they added, is critical for tracing supply chains and ensuring accountability if imported food products cause health issues such as food poisoning or allergic reactions.
The CAA reminded businesses that all goods offered for sale must carry clearly displayed prices, while imported products must include the importer’s name, address, contact details, and prescribed particulars under relevant directions.
Consumers are encouraged to report irregularities to the CAA via the 1977 hotline. (Newswire/ AI image)