Govt. steps up consumer relief efforts

• 4 Cabinet Ministers tell retail sector to obey
• New MRPs now in force 

• Rishad pledges strict action
• Call 1977 free, any time of day: Jayawickreme Perera

From left: Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Food Security Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Buddha Sasana, Public Administration and Democratic Governance Minister Karu Jayasuriya and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilleke

As reported incidences of consumer price violations increased, Sri Lanka stepped up its battle to implement the newly-slashed retail prices of selected consumer goods on 4 March in earnest, with no less than four top Cabinet Ministers joining the call. “I have been given to understand that errant sellers and vendors have not yet passed price reductions to long-suffering consumers. This is an illegal practice. Therefore we request you as investigation officers under my Ministry to enhance your district-based awareness efforts, increase detections and legal actions in the next two weeks,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. Bathiudeen was addressing the 200 CAA investigation officers from all districts of Sri Lanka who were present at Committee Room No. 1 of Parliament on Wednesday to meet the Cabinet Ministers on speedy implementation of price relief given by the recent Interim Budget. Buddha Sasana, Public Administration and Democratic Governance Minister Karu Jayasuriya, Food Security Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Bathiudeen and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilleke as well as top officials of CAA were meeting the CAA’s island-wide detection squad. “Our Government led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, aims at bringing relief to consumers across Sri Lanka,” said Bathiudeen. “The President in his 100 day program promised to reduce prices on essential food items. At the same time special provisions to be put in place for protection of those producing such goods locally. As you know by now the CAA has now gazetted the Maximum Retail Prices of selected food items as per the consumer relief efforts of President Maithripala Sirisena. However I have been given to understand that some errant sellers and vendors have not yet passed these price reductions to the suffering consumers with more than 1000 detections already. This is an illegal practice and damages the consumer confidence. It also violates the aims of our Government to give relief to the consumers of Sri Lanka. “As investigation officers under my Ministry it is you who can ensure that the suffering consumers can get the benefit of budget price reductions. Therefore we request you to enhance your district based awareness efforts, increase detections and legal actions in the next two weeks. We are also planning to gazette Maximum Retail Prices for plain tea (Rs. 15), milk tea (Rs. 20) and hoppers (Rs. 10) in the near future. We will also direct the Government Agent to enlist CAA detection and investigation officials to their monthly District Program Review Meetings in future so that regional Government officials will become aware of CAA implementations. ” On 20 February, acting under the powers vested in it by Section 20 (5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003, the CAA in the Gazette Extraordinary No 1902/55 ordered that “no manufacturer importer packer distributor or trade shall sell the following items above the Maximum Retail Prices specified”. In that, the MRP of items are unpacked white sugar at Rs. 87 per kg, milk powder 400 grams Rs. 325 (and one kg at Rs. 810), Sustagen 400 grams tin Rs. 1,500, unpacked wheat flour Rs. 87 per kilo, green gram Rs. 265 per kilo, dried sprats Rs. 385 per kilo, 425 gram canned fish tin Rs. 140 and Rs. 70.00 for a 155 gram tin, a kilo of coriander Rs. 350 per kilo, black grams (ulundu) Rs. 300 per kilo, a kilo of Maldive fish at Rs. 1,740, turmeric crushed or ground Rs. 800 per kilo, and crushed or ground chillies at Rs. 400 a kilo. “Any affected consumer can call 1977 which is a free call at any time of the day or night from anywhere in the country. Our detection squad will take immediate action,” said Minister of Food Security Gamini Jayawickreme Perera, addressing the officers. The Ministers also took part in an in-depth discussion with the 200 investigation officers.