Consumer Affairs Authority Act to be updated after twenty-year lapse

The Cabinet nod has been granted to update Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003, after 20 years, with the aim of establishing a fair market system by further strengthening the legal provisions.
Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Nalin Fernando sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft the amending articles to the act, based on a preliminary bill prepared.
Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardene noted that the proposed amendments would focus on protecting consumers from monopolistic and other anti-competitive market practices.

He pointed out that the Consumer Affairs Authority Act remains outdated, as it has not been updated for the past 20 years.
According to Fernando, the proposed bill is expected to set a minimum qualification standard for the full-time members of the Consumer Affairs Authority, including the chairman. 
In addition, it would also include a more systematic method of investigating consumer complaints against manufacturers and traders.