Rs. 222 million earned as government revenue   

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

A total of 22,000 raids have been conducted during the past ten months, and cases have been filed against 19,000 offenders. The reports of the government analysts are to be received for the remaining incidents, and soon after receiving the reports, cases will be filed against them, Director of Consumer Affairs and Information at the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Asela Bandara said.

   
Addressing the media, he said a total of 3,000 rice related raids were conducted during the past 10 months, including 350 sugar related raids.   

More than Rs. 222 million has been given to the government as collected fines from these raids, Bandara said.   
He said the CAA had announced a maximum retail price for rice and sugar. To maintain this maximum retail price, CAA officials are conducting continuous investigations and raids covering the entire country.   
“During investigations, the CAA witnessed that Keeri Samba and Samba rice are being sold in the retail market at prices exceeding the maximum retail prices, and several raids have been conducted in this regard,” Bandara said.   
The CAA had announced the maximum retail price for Keeri Samba and Samba rice as Rs. 260 and Rs. 230, he said.   

Meanwhile, the CAA had recently issued a maximum retail price for sugar, he added.    Therefore, the CAA requests consumers to request for a bill after buying sugar or rice. If the retail price exceeds the maximum retail price and if bills are not issued, the consumer is free to contact the CAA and lodge complaints.