Dambulla tourist hotel fined Rs. 500,000 for overcharging on bottled water
– A tourist hotel in Dambulla was fined Rs. 500,000 after being found guilty of selling a bottle of drinking water marked at Rs. 100 for Rs. 300, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said.The case stemmed from a raid conducted by investigating officers of the CAA’s Matale District Office at the tourist Resort, located on Ratmalgaha Ela Road, Vihara Junction, Dambulla, on January 2, 2025.
When the case was taken up before court on September 23, 2026, the company pleaded guilty to the charge, following which the Magistrate’s Court imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000.
The CAA clarified that the Rs. 100 price mentioned in the case was the applicable maximum retail price at the time and is not the current MRP for bottled drinking water.According to Order No. 96 published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2492/29 dated June 10, 2026, the current maximum retail prices for locally packaged bottled drinking water are:
500ml–999ml: Rs. 80
1L–1.499L: Rs. 120
1.5L–1.999L: Rs. 150
2L–2.499L: Rs. 180
5L–6.999L: Rs. 400
Accordingly, the current maximum retail price for a 1-litre to 1.499-litre bottle is Rs. 120.
The CAA advised consumers to check the MRP before purchasing bottled water from hotels, resorts, restaurants and shops and to obtain a bill for their purchases.
Traders were also urged not to sell products above the stipulated MRP.
Consumers can report market irregularities to the Consumer Affairs Authority by calling 1977 during office hours.