Rishad waarns Errant traders

• Warns errant biz failing to pass budget relief to the people
• Instructs Consumer Authority to move fast
• ‘Complaints received on errant traders’: Rishad
• Hotline 1977 now open to Lankan consumers

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has instructed the Consumers Affairs Authority (CAA) under his Ministry on 7 February to ‘move fast on errant traders who fail to give the recent budgetary benefits to Lankan consumers’. In line with the wishes of the new Government led by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Budget 2015 presented by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake brought relief to the consumer by reducing prices of certain essential items: one litre of kerosene reduced by Rs. 6, a kilo of sugar reduced by Rs. 10, a packet of 400 gram milk powder reduced to Rs. 325, tax on wheat flour reduced by 10%, bringing wheat flour prices down by Rs. 12.50 and a loaf of bread by Rs. 6. “I have received a number of complaints from the consumers that the price reductions from the recent budget have not been passed to them yet. I instruct you to move fast on errant traders who fail to give the recent budgetary benefits to Lankan consumers. Keep the 1977 hotline open and attend so that action such as raids can be done immediately,” instructed Minister Bathiudeen from his offices of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Colombo 3. The CAA is the apex state organisation to protect consumers’ interests and ensure fair market competition. It conducts market investigations and also mandated on consumer education, pricing and management, competition and promotion.