A Colombo-based firm and its director have been ordered to pay Rs. 100,000 after admitting to charges involving the storage of expired imported Ayurvedic medicines and cosmetic products lacking proper labelling.
Orience International Business (Pvt) Ltd, a company based in Colombo 13, and its director were sentenced on August 4 after entering guilty pleas to five charges before the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court. The Consumer Affairs Authority brought the case after discovering multiple regulatory breaches during an inspection of the company's premises.
During a raid conducted on May 20, 2026, investigators from the CAA uncovered over 640 expired Ayurvedic capsules and tablets, including products identified as Nephrofit, Dolacare, Asparose, Triphala and Ashwagandha. The operation also resulted in the seizure of more than 280 cosmetic and personal care items such as soaps, face washes, shampoos, and hair oils that did not meet regulatory labelling standards. In total, approximately 920 items were confiscated and sealed.
The charges against the company included storing expired imported Ayurvedic medicines intended for sale, failing to maintain proper records documenting the destruction of expired products, and possessing multiple items without mandatory information including maximum retail prices and importer details. The magistrate imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 per charge on each defendant, totalling Rs. 100,000. Additionally, the court ordered the immediate destruction of all seized stock.
The Consumer Affairs Authority has encouraged members of the public to report traders engaged in selling expired medicines, substandard cosmetic products, or items lacking required labelling through its 1977 hotline during business hours.
