World · Sri Lanka Bureau
CAA cracks down on false origin labelling in Dehiwala footwear operation
Sri Lanka's Consumer Affairs Authority has seized nearly 1,000 pairs of footwear during a raid on a suspected illegal manufacturing facility in Dehiwala. The goods were being falsely labelled as Chinese-made products despite being produced locally.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) conducted a significant enforcement operation in Dehiwala, uncovering what authorities describe as a coordinated scheme to misrepresent locally manufactured footwear as imported Chinese products. The raid resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,000 pairs of shoes that carried misleading country-of-origin labelling.
The discovery points to a broader practice of false labelling that potentially affects consumer protection and fair trade practices. By marking domestically produced items with foreign origin claims, the operation appears designed to command higher retail prices or exploit consumer perceptions favouring imported goods.
The CAA's intervention highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing consumer protection regulations across the island's manufacturing sector. Authorities have indicated that investigations into the operation are continuing, with further action expected against those responsible for the mislabelling scheme.
The seizure forms part of the CAA's broader mandate to protect consumers from deceptive trade practices and ensure compliance with labelling requirements under local consumer protection laws.