Sri Lanka's Consumer Affairs Authority has reminded traders of their legal obligation to display prices clearly for unpackaged items, emphasizing that transparent pricing protects consumers and promotes fair market competition.
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has issued guidance urging retailers to prominently display prices for loose or unpackaged goods, including rice, sugar, lentils, chickpeas, grains, vegetables and fruits. The directive comes as part of efforts to enhance consumer protection and market transparency across the country.
According to the CAA, clear price labeling is not a voluntary practice but a legal requirement under Section 26 of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 9 of 2003. The Authority emphasized that transparent pricing serves multiple purposes, enabling shoppers to compare costs across different retailers, make purchasing decisions aligned with their financial capacity, and exercise their fundamental right to access pricing information before completing transactions.
The CAA also highlighted that standardized price displays benefit traders themselves by fostering fair competition within markets and reducing potential disputes arising from price misunderstandings. The Authority advised consumers to examine not only the displayed price but also verify the unit of measurement—such as whether costs are quoted per kilogram, per 100 grams, or per individual item—before making comparisons across different shops.
In its guidance, the CAA called on both merchants and customers to take active roles in ensuring market fairness. While traders are reminded of their statutory obligation to comply with pricing display requirements, consumers are encouraged to actively verify and compare prices rather than passively requesting quotations from vendors.
