October 16, Colombo (LNW): Vendors across Sri Lanka have been slapped with fines exceeding Rs. 25 million for selling bottled drinking water at unlawfully inflated prices, according to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).
The penalties follow a comprehensive series of inspections carried out over a six-month stretch from April 01 to September 30.
A total of 306 raids were conducted during this period, targeting retailers and distributors suspected of exploiting consumers by charging above the regulated maximum retail price for bottled water.
The Colombo District recorded the highest concentration of enforcement activity, indicating a particular prevalence of violations in the capital and surrounding urban centres.
The CAA, which is tasked with safeguarding consumer rights and maintaining fair market practices, stated that the offending vendors had breached price control regulations, particularly during a period marked by fluctuating weather conditions and rising demand for drinking water.
In many cases, retailers had failed to display proper pricing or attempted to justify inflated costs under the pretext of transportation and packaging expenses.
Officials emphasised that the raids were not limited to any single region but extended to both urban and rural areas, ensuring that pricing malpractices are tackled across the board.
Mobile inspection teams, acting on public complaints as well as independent monitoring, played a key role in identifying and prosecuting offenders.
