The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday fined a vendor operating the canteen of the Colombo–Batticaloa ‘Meenagaya’ train Rs. 100,000 for selling water bottles above the maximum retail price.
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said the stipulated MRP for a 1,000ml water bottle is Rs. 100, but the vendor had been selling the bottles at Rs. 160, overcharging passengers by Rs. 60 each.
The case followed a sting raid by a CAA investigating officer who posed as a regular customer, bought a bottle at the inflated price and then took action against the vendor.
The fine adds to a recent run of CAA prosecutions targeting price violations at travel and tourism outlets, including a Rs. 510,000 fine on a Dambulla restaurant for selling expired water above MRP earlier the same week.
