SLRA-CAA to promote Consumer Rights Day, National Consumer Rewards Week

From left: CAA Director Consumer Affairs and Information Chandrika Tillekeratne, CAA Executive Director Dr. M.M. Hilmy, CAA Executive Director A.H.M. Anwer, CAA Chairman Hasitha Tillekeratne, Hameedia Group Deputy MD/Sri Lanka Retailers’ Association Lead Convener Hussain Sadique, Laugfs Supermarkets (Pvt.) Ltd COO A. Wickremage, Jaykay Marketing (Pvt.) Ltd - Keells Super CEO Charitha Subasinghe, Laugfs Supermarkets (Pvt.) Ltd DGM Chaminda Wijesinghe and Retailers-Connect Leonard Perera

A team of officials from the Sri Lanka Retailers’ Association (SLRA) recently met with the Chairman and top officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) in order to promote the ‘World Consumer Rights Day’ to be held in Sri Lanka on March 15, 2016 and the following ‘National Consumer Rewards Week’ during the week of March 14 to 20, 2016. Both events have been initiated and organised by the CAA.

The SLRA, with its motto ‘Connecting retailers to create value for consumers’, is under formation pioneered by the leading retailers Abans, Keells Super, Cargills Food City, Laugfs, Healthguard, Swarnamahal Jewelers, No Limit, Cool Planet, DSI and Hameedia. 

Hameedia Group Deputy Managing Director and SLRA Lead Convener Hussain Sadique hailed with enthusiasm the initiative of CAA Chairman Hasitha Tillekeratne and proposed a ‘Consumer Shoppers Week’ to coincide with the campaign during this period by offering discounts, benefits and other special offers and educating and promoting consumer rights through its prospective membership. 

“With climate change and environmental impacts, consumers have become more concerned of their consumption choices and how these impact health, environment and societies. Within this context, corporates need to intensify its research and development in food quality, safety and nutrition while enhancing savings to consumers. This awareness week is all about building a consumer-centric market - taking the power knowledge to the consumer and we are delighted to support this engagement with the Consumer Affairs Authority,” said Sidath Kodikara of Cargills Foods Company.

The World Consumer Rights Day was founded and inspired by a speech made by former US President John F. Kennedy on March 15, 1962 to the United States Congress in which he inscribed four basic consumer rights, consequenting the US Consumer Bill of Rights. The United Nations through the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection expanded these into eight rights and thereafter ‘Consumers International’ adopted these rights as a charter and started recognizing March 15 as the World Consumer Rights Day. 

Following Global Voice for Consumers, Consumers International, the CAA will commemorate World Consumer Rights Day 2016 with the theme - ‘Crown the consumer’ - and promote the National Consumer Rewards Week with several consumer rights awareness activities including a Consumer Forum focusing on this year’s international theme - ‘Antibiotics off the menu’. 

The SLRA envisage joining this initiative in future as a retailer activity to enhance value to consumers. This will be one of the key events of the association in its annual calendar of activities. Going forward, the SLRA will look to launching Sri Lankan shopping promotions and festivals to attract tourists just like in other countries in the region such as Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia, etc.

Members of the retail industry are invited to participate in this national campaign. For more information, please contact Shakila Weerasinghe on 0765429776 of the CAA or the SLRA Secretariat: No. 30, Amarasekara Mawatha, Colombo 5. Email: info@slretailforum.org or SLRA Project Manager Leonard Perera on 0727 354 880.