The Bandarawela Magistrate's Court has imposed a Rs.1 million fine on a food outlet for selling bottled drinking water above the maximum retail price applicable at the time of the offence.
The Consumer Affairs Authority said the establishment sold a 500 ml bottle of drinking water for Rs.100 when its applicable maximum retail price was Rs.70.
The case was taken up before the Bandarawela Magistrate's Court on September 23.
The defendant establishment was fined Rs.1 million.
Rs.70 was the applicable MRP at the time
The Consumer Affairs Authority has specifically clarified that the Rs.70 MRP was the price applicable at the time of the raid.
It should therefore not be reported as though every 500 ml bottle of drinking water currently has an MRP of Rs.70.
The regulatory price applicable at the time of a particular sale must be distinguished from later pricing orders.
Consumer protection enforcement
The case concerns the sale of a price-regulated product above the prescribed maximum retail price.
It demonstrates enforcement of consumer-pricing rules but should not be generalised beyond the product and pricing framework applicable to the offence.
Consumers may report suspected overcharging and other market irregularities to the Consumer Affairs Authority through its official complaint channels.