Market Research & Information

Status of competition in an economy cannot be assessed without regular market research. Consumer Affairs Authority is entrusted to undertake studies and publish reports to provide information relating to market conditions of various goods and services. Authority carries out studies on general consumer issues as well as specific competition related problems associated with different trades. Generally, these market research studies will be concentrated on:

• Major sectors/industries with prominent competition issues
• Market structures associated with such industries / sectors and
• Existing and potential impacts of these structures over anti-competitive conducts in respective trades.

Based on the findings of these studies, actions are initiated to promote competition in respective markets. Anti-competitive investigations need the support of various parameters of market situation such as market shares, elasticities, market power indicators etc. Therefore, actions are also undertaken to develop a database on market conditions and parameters, which are necessary to monitor and evaluate competition situation in major markets on a regular basis

Empowerment of Consumers

This page is under construction

Promotion of Competition

• Intervention on anti-competitive practices operating against public interest.
  Examinations are initiated on our own to identify for possible anti-competitive practices operating against the public interest.
• Handling complaints from trade.
  Any business can complain in respect of an alleged anti-competitive practice and prohibited practice make written submissions to the Consumer Affairs Authority
  • Based on prima facie evidence on anti-competitive practice, Competition Promotion Division will conduct an inquiry and may refer to the Consumer Affairs Council. If an anti-competitive practice exists and the Council is satisfied, that operates or likely to operate against “public interest” oppose or terminate that activity.
  • If Council is satisfied, endorses or authorizes such activity, on prohibited practices Authority shall conduct an inquiry considering it is guilty of an offence and prosecute.
    • Identification of market structure and manipulation.
      Statistical data collection and analysis of market conditions are carried out. This is aimed in order to get the efficiency in the market and economy.
    • Market research, recommending safeguards and price monitoring.
      With the view to promoting competition in market, Authority has been bolstering its analysis and research through the Competition Promotion Division on dominant industries.
    • Awareness on healthy Competition.
      Competition Promotion division has developed awareness materials tailored to trade/business in order to prevent Authority Act violation and under privileged consumers for a more systematic consumer protection. We propose for a jointly organized discussion forum to discuss the practical anti-competitive problems faced by the trade.
    • Maintaining level playing field for fostering Competition (MRP Administration)
      Protection of local industries through promotion of level playing field. In this regard few consumer goods have been identified to price mark with MRP at the time of importation and are being administered along with Department of Customs and monitored by this division.

Director,
Competition Promotion,
Consumer Affairs Authority,
PO Box. 1581
Colombo.

Control of Abusive Trade Practices

Authority regularly conducts raids on trade related offences to ensure the compliance by traders regarding the orders and directions made by the Authority. These raids have created a large impact on controlling the behavior of traders to safeguard the rights of consumers. Offenders and goods that are taken in to the custody during raids are produced to courts and offenders are punished according to the provisions of the Act.