CAA seizes 3,000 locally assembled gas cookers falsely labeled as foreign-made

10 August 2025 09:52 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, August 10 (Daily Mirror) - The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has seized a stock of 3,000 gas cookers in the Grandpass area that had been imported as parts, assembled locally, and falsely labeled as manufactured in a foreign country.

The raid, conducted based on a tip-off, revealed that while the business claimed to import parts and source other components locally, it failed to present any supporting documents to CAA officials. Investigations also found that the packaging and related documents for the cookers were printed locally.

Gas stove imports to Sri Lanka fall under the Compulsory Import Inspection Scheme (CIIS) managed by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), which ensures products meet required safety, health, and environmental standards. However, initial inquiries revealed that the businessman bypassed these mandatory tests and released the products into the market without proper certification.

The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court ordered the warehouse to be sealed and further investigations to be carried out.

Comments - 14

Sokrates Sunday, 10 August 2025 10:21 AM

I wouldn't trust Sri Lankan safety certificates. I only need to remind you of the gas cylinder explosions.

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Azmath Buhar Sunday, 10 August 2025 11:25 AM

Yes offcouse, our safety and quality standards are very poor when it is comes to consumer goods.

0 34

Perera Sunday, 10 August 2025 03:29 PM

Gas cylinders exploded due to a completely different reason. It had nothing to do with the quality of gas cookers or the cylinders.

2 2

L.A.BUDDHADASA Monday, 11 August 2025 08:36 AM

NOT A SINGLE gas cylinder exploded. The explosions were caused by too much Propane in the LPG, leading to leaky hoses and shattered glass cooker tops

0 2

Renai Sunday, 10 August 2025 12:57 PM

The hose in my gas cooker is over 24 years. It never exploded. But we had explosions using government imported gas. What was consumer affairs authority doing then.? I complained about under weight cylinder to them. They just forwarded my letter to the offending company and informed me. CAA is irrespinsible.

2 3

Gx Sunday, 10 August 2025 01:00 PM

They have a good future if they follow proper protocol in doing business.

1 6

Ravana Sunday, 10 August 2025 02:22 PM

Maybe we should help them achieve better quality for locally made stoves We got the materials, the labour, the intelligence... just don't let capitalism inject greed into this industry

2 6

Dr. Dee esquire Sunday, 10 August 2025 02:33 PM

Yet. People opt to buy cheap goods from pettah! A decent quality product has no chance in Sri Lanka.

2 5

Innovation Sunday, 10 August 2025 04:49 PM

Our country needs entrepreneurial spirit instead of importing every small thing, even a stapling pin from other nations (but I agree that you can't produce everything domestically and it is an antediluvian and failed economic approach). Countries like China and India started their indutries like this. But today, in many sectors, including automobiles and electronics, Chinese technologies are in par or better than Japanese technologies. Instead of killing these businesses, they should be regulated and supervised and ordered to improve their standards to match with the required levels. Actually, I appreciate these guys for starting a business like this instead of selling "drugs" to people. I think we need a different approach and mindset to dealing with these kinds of businesses, which actually "produce" something and contributing to GDP growth rather than just draining tax-payers money on grants like "Aswassuma" to people who do nothing.

1 10

Abdul Sunday, 10 August 2025 04:53 PM

I got eurpoean standard gas cooker to import, SLSI rejected approval without even inspecting the product. Lazy ducks!

0 11

Sarath Gooneratne Monday, 11 August 2025 06:43 AM

If this person is importing parts and assembling the cooker in Sri lanka with added value it is good. However he has to get the necessary government approvals and have correct safety stamdards to protect our people from harm.

0 2

R Navaratnam Monday, 11 August 2025 06:52 AM

This is a Health and Safety issue and to cheat public is very poor. My hats of to those who tipped.

1 0

P Kunchithapathan Monday, 11 August 2025 07:01 AM

Sri Lanka's Standard Bureau doesn't have the facility to test laboratory to grand safety certificate for the branded gas cookers. Government should encourage industrial skills and entrepreneurship to promote local productivity. Hope the Judiciary give directions to share knowledge on safety standards and certifications. Incorporation of sole proprietorship or partnership is mostly rejected by the clerical staff working in the District Secretariates. Those clerical staff working in the District Secretariates are clueless on the trade skills and they handle the matters unprofessionally. This is a very serious issue that is crippling National Productivity. An wonder the penetration of entrepreneurship is mere 2%.

0 3

Shakeel Monday, 11 August 2025 08:42 AM

I am sure, they are not the only ones doing this claim. More raids and apprehension would deter these unlawful activities.

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