The Consumer Affairs Authority has detected 98 suspected violations of the rules governing the import, manufacture and sale of lubricants and grease during islandwide raids conducted between October 27 and 30.
Inspectors visited retail outlets selling engine oil, gear oil, other lubricants and grease in several parts of the country, checking compliance with the authority’s Direction No. 88. Several products suspected of breaching the rules were taken into custody as case productions.
Direction No. 88, published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2327/36 of April 12, 2023 under Section 10(1) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003, requires a valid agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka in order to import or manufacture lubricants and grease.
The direction also requires the relevant government agreement number to be printed on the packaging, or shown on a permanent label, on any product stored or offered for sale.
The authority said the requirement is intended to establish the legal status of imported and locally made lubricants and to identify their supply sources. It cautioned, however, that the presence of a government agreement number on its own is not a guarantee of a product’s quality.
Investigations into the suspected violations are continuing. The CAA said it will institute legal action in the relevant Magistrate’s Courts against traders and others held responsible once sufficient evidence has been established.
Traders were advised to ensure that products offered for sale carry the required agreement number. Consumers were urged to check product labels and obtain receipts when buying lubricants, and can report suspected violations on the CAA hotline 1977 during office hours.
The authority did not say how many outlets were inspected in total, or where the 98 suspected violations were concentrated.