February 24, Colombo (LNW): The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has recently destroyed nearly 6,800 plastic drinking water bottles that were found to be illegally branded with a forged logo of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI).
This action follows a series of raids conducted last October, during which the CAA uncovered a private company based in Pugoda involved in manufacturing water bottles bearing the fake SLSI logo.
The fraudulent products, which were misrepresented as meeting the national standards for quality, prompted legal action against the company.
A case was filed, and the Pugoda Magistrate’s Court subsequently ruled that the company, along with a director and the manager of its affiliated tax-buying company, should each be fined Rs. 300,000 for their involvement in the deceptive practices.
In a further step to ensure public safety and consumer protection, the court recently ordered the destruction of the stock of counterfeit water bottles, which had an estimated market value exceeding Rs. 1 million.
On February 20, the bottles were emptied of their contents, and the empty plastic bottles were sent for recycling in compliance with the court’s directive.
In addition to the financial penalties, the company faces further legal consequences as the CAA has taken steps to prosecute the business under two charges related to misleading consumers.
The firm is accused of making false representations by unlawfully using the SLSI logo, which could have potentially endangered public health by misleading customers into believing the products met the necessary standards.
The CAA continues to prioritise the protection of public welfare by holding companies accountable for any attempts to deceive consumers.
