Speaker flays CAA for its failure to protect consumers

By Norman Palihawadane

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says that traders fleece the consumers by jacking up prices as well as selling substandard food while the Consumer Affairs Authority officials are preoccupied with egg raids.

 “I informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe of this problem. The Consumer Affairs Authority is there to ensure the protection of consumers’ rights. It is the mechanism set up to prevent the consumers being exploited by the traders. However, there is no such protection for the consumers who had to pay black market prices at the mercy of the traders. The President asked me to submit my complaint in writing and I will do it today,” the Speaker said yesterday.

 The Speaker said the MPs in parliament too are silent on the plight of the consumers and the failure to do their duty by the CAA officials. “The CAA officials currently worry only about the egg shortage. Consumers complain of adulterated lentils and rice,” Speaker Abeywardena added.