A Jaffna restaurant has been ordered to pay Rs. 950,000 after being caught selling bottled water at prices significantly above the legally permitted maximum retail price.

The Jaffna Magistrate's Court imposed the substantial fine on August 25 following a Consumer Affairs Authority investigation that revealed the establishment was charging Rs. 200 for one-liter bottles of drinking water, despite the official maximum retail price being set at Rs. 120.

Authority inspectors uncovered the violation during a raid at the restaurant, documenting evidence of the price markup. The case was then referred to the Magistrate's Court, which determined the overcharging constituted a violation of consumer protection regulations and warranted the penalty.

In response to the incident, the Consumer Affairs Authority has issued guidance to consumers on protecting themselves from similar violations. The agency recommends that shoppers verify printed prices against stipulated maximums at the point of purchase and always request and keep receipts for their transactions.

Members of the public who encounter instances of goods being sold above regulated prices or other breaches of consumer law are encouraged to report such violations to the Consumer Affairs Authority's hotline at 1977 during business hours, enabling authorities to take appropriate enforcement action.