EconomyGeneralHOTSunday, April 12, 2026

Consumer Authority Intensifies Market Raids Ahead of Festive Season

TLDR

CAA raids continue until April 30th with 350 officers deployed.
Nearly 6,000 raids conducted; 2,000 specifically since March 20th.
Targeting inflated prices, no price display, and unfair treatment.
Consumers can report issues via CAA hotline 1977.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has initiated a special program to safeguard consumers during the upcoming festive season, with market raids continuing even on weekends. CAA Chairman Hemantha Samarakoon stated that over 1,000 raids have been conducted since March 20, leading to legal action against offenders. Minister of Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Wasantha Samarasinghe affirmed strict enforcement against traders hoarding goods or selling above controlled prices. So far this year, the CAA reports conducting over 5,000 market raids, with more than 170 traders facing legal proceedings for offenses such as hoarding rice and selling at inflated prices. The CAA has deployed 350 officers for continuous price monitoring and encourages consumers to report violations via hotline 1977.

2 Updates

Update #3\u00b7 Apr 13 · 4:48 AM

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has further clarified the focus of its ongoing special market raids, stating that officers are specifically targeting issues such as failure to display prices, selling goods at inflated prices, and unfair treatment of consumers in the marketplace. These details were provided by Asela Bandara, Director of Information and Consumer Affairs.

Update #2\u00b7 Apr 13 · 2:31 AM

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has confirmed that market raids will continue throughout weekends and the festive season until April 30th. A total of 350 officers have been deployed for these operations. The CAA reports that nearly 6,000 market raids have been conducted since the beginning of the campaign, with approximately 2,000 raids specifically targeting consumer inconveniences since March 20th. Consumers can report traders selling goods above controlled prices via the CAA hotline at 1977.

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