A shop in Akkaraipattu has been fined Rs. 100,000 for selling Keeri Samba rice above the maximum retail price, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said.
The Akkaraipattu Magistrate’s Court imposed the fine after the trader pleaded guilty to violating regulations on controlled rice prices. According to gazette notifications, the maximum retail price for one kilogramme of Keeri Samba is Rs. 260. The shop had sold two kilogrammes for Rs. 800 — Rs. 400 per kilogramme, exceeding the approved price by Rs. 140 per kilo.
The raid was carried out by officers of the CAA’s Ampara District Office, who subsequently filed action in court.
The CAA said it will continue to take legal action against traders who sell rice above the stipulated prices and urged consumers to check the maximum retail price when making purchases. Consumers were advised to report incidents with relevant receipts to the CAA hotline 1977.
The Ampara fine extends a sustained CAA enforcement push that has produced court fines totalling over Rs. 2 million across six districts on rice and bottled-water overpricing, alongside festive-season operations in Dambulla and Kegalle. The authority’s special raid programme was extended through April 30 after nearly 2,000 inspections since March 20. Keeri Samba — Sri Lanka’s most-consumed premium rice variety — has been the most frequent target of overpricing complaints in 2026.
Source: Newswire.
