Court fines two firms Rs. 600,000 for overpricing
The Kegalle Magistrate’s Court on Friday fined two businesses for selling rice at prices higher than the government’s controlled rates.A private company based in Galigamuwa town was ordered to pay Rs. 500,000, while a separate supermarket in Kegalle was fined Rs. 100,000.
The cases were filed under the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Act, which empowers authorities to regulate the sale of essential goods and take legal action against violators.Officials said the fines were imposed after inspections confirmed that both businesses had sold rice at inflated prices, in breach of regulations designed to protect consumers from exploitation.
The CAA urged the public to report similar complaints through its 1977 hotline, emphasizing that monitoring of markets will continue to ensure fair trade practices.
