Officials attached to the Southern Regional Office of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) have collected a record income of over Rs. 1.2 million from errant traders as court fines through sudden raids and mobile inspections in Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts in the course of March this year.
According to CAA officials, the total number of raids in the Southern region during the period was 207. Errant traders were prosecuted in Magistrates’ courts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts.
Charges framed against them were: sale and display for sale food items unsuitable for human consumption, sale and display of expired food items, selling foodstuff which were decayed and eaten by rats, weevils and insects, altering prices on labels and selling them at excessive rates, selling electrical appliances without issuing warranty cards, sales of rice and cement above set prices, non- display of price tags and violating orders, rules and regulations imposed by the Consumer Affairs Authority.
Complaints regarding frauds, malpractices and acts of corruption committed by unscrupulous traders are daily pouring into the Authority.
The CAA has enhanced sudden raids and mobile inspections against fraudulent traders throughout the Southern region during the festive season, the officials said.
Awareness programs on consumer rights are also being conducted for school children, members of voluntary organizations, people and also the trading community by the Authority.
On the instructions of the District Secretaries of Galle, Matara and Hambantota, CAA investigation officers are conducting raids and inspections throughout the Southern region.