Southern Regional Office of the Consumer Affairs Authority has amassed an income of nearly Rs. 600,000 from errant traders by way of court fines through sudden raids and inspections conducted as part of their sudden raids and mobile inspections against fraudulent traders in the area.
According to investigation officials 106 sudden raids and mobile inspections were conducted in the Matara district, 93 raids in the Galle district and 85 raids and mobile inspections were conducted in the district of Hambantota during the past month. The total number of raids done in all three districts during the past month was 284.
Errant traders were prosecuted in the Magistrates’ courts in Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts, officials said.
Errant vendors nabbed were indicted on counts of sale of food items unsuitable for human consumption, sale of expired food items, selling foods products which were decayed and eaten by rats, weevils and insects, altering set prices marked on labels and selling them at excessive rates, selling electrical appliances without issuing warranty cards, sales of rice and cement above set prices, failure to display price tags, hoarding essential food items and violating orders, rules and regulations imposed by the Consumer Affairs Authority.
According to CAA, complaints on frauds, malpractices and corruptions committed by unscrupulous traders are daily received by the Authority. Under these circumstances CAA has increased its raids and mobile inspections to apprehend vendors committing frauds and corruptions throughout the Southern region investigation officials said.
Awareness programs on consumer rights are also being conducted for school children, members of voluntary organizations, people and the trading community.