The Ampara Magistrate’s Court imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on a supermarket for selling imported Keeri Samba rice at Rs. 25 per kilogram above the maximum retail price.
The fine was imposed on October 22 following a hearing into a case filed by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). The manager of New City Super Market (Pvt) Ltd, located on D.S. Senanayake Street in Ampara, was named as the defendant.
CAA investigation officers attached to the Ampara District Office detected the violation during an investigation conducted on or around June 15.
The court was informed that the supermarket had sold two kilograms of imported Keeri Samba rice to an investigation officer for Rs. 560, despite the maximum retail price being fixed at Rs. 255 per kilogram.
The supermarket had charged Rs. 280 per kilogram, resulting in a total overcharge of Rs. 50 for the two kilograms.
The maximum retail price of imported Keeri Samba rice had been fixed at Rs. 255 per kilogram under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2459/12, dated October 21, 2025.
The rice purchased by the investigation officers, the money involved in the transaction and the receipt were produced before the court as evidence.
Meanwhile, the CAA urged the public to report violations of consumer protection laws, including sales above maximum retail prices, through its 1977 hotline during office hours.
