IPS Conducts World Consumer Rights Day Forum 2015

The IPS, together with the Consumer Affair Authority of Sri Lanka and Consumer International, recently organized a forum in Colombo to mark the Wold Consumer Rights Day 2015 under the theme “Healthy Diets”.

Delivering the welcome speech IPS Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama stressed that “communication and information go hand in hand when it comes to building a successful consumer policy”. He added that the “citizens must be aware of their rights.”

Minister of Industry and Commerce Hon. Rishard Bathiudeen was the chief guest at the event.

IPS also launched its latest publication titled, “An Assessment of the Implementation of Guidelines in School Canteens – A Case Study from the Western Province of Sri Lanka” which was presented to Hon. Minister Rishard Bathurdeen by IPS Executive Director.

Among the speakers at the forum were Sarath Wijesinha, former Sri Lanka Ambassador to Israel and UAE and former Chairman, Consumer Affairs Authority of Sri Lanka, Dr. D. C. Jayasuriya, Author of Guide to the Consumer Affairs Authority Act and former Chairman of the SEC who highlighted the Perspective from the Legal Framework and Satya Sharma of Consumer International.

Presentations were also made covering WCRD themes.

Participants representing various consumer organizations, government and private sector, consumer groups, NGOs, civil society, academia and media were at the forum. They actively engaged in the panel discussions carried out by Ambassador Sarath Wijesinha, Dr. D. B. T. Wijeratne, Additional Secretary/Agriculture Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chandrika Thilakarathne, Director / Consumer Affairs & Information, Consumer Affairs Authority, Dr. Hemantha Herath, Deputy Director/Environmental and Occupational Health, Ministry of Health, Satya Sharma, Consumer International.

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World Consumer Rights Day Forum 2015 – Presentations

Towards Healthier Diets: The Role of Nutrition Labelling

Raveen Ekanayake, Research Officer, IPS

An Assessment of Implementation of School Canteens Guidelines

Samanthi Bandara, Research Officer, IPS

Promoting Healthy Food in Schools

Dr. Ayesha Lokubalasuriya, National Programme Manager, School Health
Programme, Ministry of Health

Reducing Salt and Sugar Intake (Super 8 Initiative)

Dr. Susie Perera, Director/Organisation and Development, Ministry of Health