Consumer Affairs and Police to raid traders and consumers for hoarding

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) together with Sri Lanka Police will conduct raids from today to arrest consumers and vendors stockpiling essential goods as well as healthcare items.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana called on the public to refrain from hoarding essential goods, insisting that there was no immediate emergency in the country.

The Government has assured that there was no shortage of essential goods, including dry rations and health items such as hand sanitisers and face masks in the country. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently announced Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) for a kilogram of dhal at Rs. 65 and a can of tinned fish at Rs. 100, as part of relief measures in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.  

It was pointed out that some vendors were refusing to sell at the stipulated MRP due to certain consumers purchasing in large quantities or panic buying products in order to hoard and resell when prices increase in the future.   

He said hoarding of essential goods was illegal and the CAA would take legal action against those found to be violating the Government’s policy.