The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court has fined a restaurant in the food court of a Colombo 04 shopping mall Rs. 500,000 for selling drinking water bottles above the government-regulated Maximum Retail Price.
The case followed a Consumer Affairs Authority raid in which an officer posing as a customer purchased a 500ml water bottle. The CAA said the restaurant charged Rs. 100 for the bottle and returned only Rs. 20 in change, effectively overcharging by Rs. 80. The receipt was produced in court and the company pleaded guilty.
The CAA reminded consumers that businesses are not permitted to sell goods above the printed MRP regardless of location, and urged the public to check prices and report violations with receipts.
The fine adds to a sustained CAA enforcement push targeting bottled-water and rice MRP violations across the country. The same court fined a train vendor Rs. 100,000 on Tuesday for similar conduct, while a Dambulla restaurant was penalised Rs. 510,000 for selling expired water above MRP. Earlier waves of action have covered rice and water overpricing in six districts and special raids extending into April.
Source: Newswire.
