• State emergency was enforced for the sake of the people

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Around 1,500 court cases related to unlawful rice trading and another 1,000 cases related to such errant trading involved in sugar are at a standstill because of the current pandemic situation, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna told Parliament yesterday.

Speaking during the regulations in emergency in the House, State Minister Alagiyawanna said there were 35,000 cases filed by the Consumer Affairs Authority against various persons but there is one instance where a person was sent to jail. “There was only one instance where courts have subjected a company found guilty to a fine which was more than Rs 100,000,” he said. “The Consumer affairs law, therefore, is not sufficient to ensure that essential goods are available to people at a fair price. This is why Emergency laws are needed,” he said.