Selling above the MRP

A very popular brand of rice, packed in an orangish yellow bag with red and blue lettering (5 Kg) with MRP as Rs. 600.00 is being sold openly in the market at Rs. 700.00. Isn’t it illegal to sell above the Maximum Retail Price? If it is so, why is the Consumer Authority of Sri Lanka not instituting legal action and stopping this malpractice? Even coconuts are being sold above the recently gazetted controlled price. The trader says that their purchase price is above the gazetted price and, therefore, it will be a loss for them to sell at the controlled price!!!

Mohamed Zahran
Colombo