Three Pakistani nationals have been arrested in a suspected cosmetic contraband raid by the Consumer Affairs Authority of Sri Lanka (CAA) on the afternoon of April 1.
โThe three suspects were arrested while they were handling uncertified, unknown type of a โcreamโ to be sold in the market as โskin care creamโ. They were packing the โcreamโ to small tubs when our officials raided themโ said Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development and Vocational Training Rishad Bathiudeen, under whom CAA falls, on 2 April during his discussion with his top officials. โI am told that the cream they were packing did not say what the โcreamโ was, had no labels, had no indication of where it was manufactured, no listing of contents within the cream and no documentary proofs. CAA immediately decided that the stock was illegalโ added Minister Bathiudeen.
The illegal โpacking operationโ was taking place at Moor Street, Colombo 12 on April 1 run by the three Pakistani suspects when the CAA officials caught them red-handed. The suspects were packing a โskin careโ cream along with 3500 product labels while parcels of empty tubs were kept close-by. CAA officials and its Chairman Lalith Senaweera suspect that the contraband was being packed to be sent to the market ahead of the forthcoming Avurudu/New-year seasonal promotions. โThe raid took place on the direction of Minister Bathiudeenโ said Chairman Senaweera, and added: โWe have sealed all the contraband to be forwarded to the Courts. The suspects will be produced to the Fort Magistrate Court on 4 April. We believe the value of this stock to be around Rs 2 Million. Minister Bathiudeen advised CAA to increase raids and do them continuously ahead of the forthcoming new-year season.โ CAA also took into custody 7500 skin whitening soaps, 15 litres of skin cream, 250 cakes of soap labelled โGoldenโ, and 3000 nail polish packs; -all of which were not certified/tested dermatologically โThey had no labels, no indication of where they originate, nor listing of any product contents.
Sri Lanka has more than 1200 skin-care products in its domestic market while 25% of the population is believed to use skin care creams (70% use hair care products). More than 110 cosmetics importers are registered with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority.
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress