CAA conducts more than 10,000 consumer protection raids

Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) hit more than 10,000 raids in the first half (1H) of 2016 – and increased its fine collections by a strong 55 percent, the latest data showed.
According to the CAA data of July, the raids conducted by the CAA teams from January to June this year totalled 10,146 and is steady - showing only a marginal decline from 2015’s 1H total of 10,162. 
The highest monthly raids in this year’s 1H are reported in the pre-New Year season – in March 1874 – while the lowest raids (2016 1H) took place in June – 1468. A similar monthly pattern was seen in last year raids as well. The three leading regions this year are the districts of Kurunegala (1464 raids), Kegalle (1305 raids) and Kandy (1286 raids). The lowest raids this year has been reported from the Hambantota District (680). In 2016 1H Rs.45.7 million was collected as total fines – a strong 55 percent increase from last year 1H’s Rs.29.3 million. Colombo Districts (Rs.4.1 million), Jaffna (Rs.3 million) and Kurunagala (Rs.3 million) topped this year’s fines list while Hambantota (Rs.1 million) being the lowest.
Vavuniya is at exact mid-spot with Rs.2.1 million fines.

Among the offences on which the raids were made are sale of food products not fit for consumption, non-display of prices and not issuing warranties for electrical items.