Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel, Solicitor in England and Wales, former Chairman Consumer Affairs Authority Former Ambassador UAE and Israel and President Ambassador’s Forum.

World consumer day falls on 15^th March every year celebrated by the Consumer International the main body for consumer – and others world over as the Consumers Day world over in order to show strength and be with citizens to air the needs and grievances of the consumer in a friendly atmosphere supposed to include all citizens as any average citizen is a consumer at any stage of the life from birth to death. For example, when a child is born parents become consumers in purchasing consumer items for the child and the process goes till his death and maturity and it is a need of every citizen to be a consumer at every moment of life circle. Consumer is defined in various ways simply professionally and academically as it is an important word and subject to the citizen during the complicated life circle. The main legal instrument in Sri Lanka ( in addition to the civil and other laws connected to consumerism) is the Consumers Affairs Authority act no 9 of 2003 defines Consumer as S 75 as any actual or potential user of any goods or services made available for a consideration of trader or manufacture for the purpose of legislation when Oxford Dictionary defines consumer as a person who buys or uses goods or services. In academic and professional caraculs, it is defended in advanced forms but the consumer he needs quality consumer items at an affordable price maintaining good standards. Every citizen is a consumer and it is this group that needs redress and satisfaction that is in the hands of the trader and manufacture whose prime motive is profit making when the differences emerge among trader, consumer, manufacturer and the regulator-that is the government. The issues and challenges are common in any jurisdiction and this concept known as consumerism is universal issue common of developed mankind.

Historical significance

Consumerism as a concept goes back to long historical legacies especially in UK and west when the trade and commerce is in hay days with naval powers and world trade with colonies, trade law developed in the west with writers and great thinkers who mastered the principals and concepts  of consumerism that gave foundation to the modern trade and commercial law with series of case law in England that spread to the commonwealth and the west. Today EU, USA, and UK lead the operation of the legal process followed by west and commonwealth of Nations. EU directions are effective and covers UK and EU nations.

Is the consumer powerful or has been given the due place in the society?

They say consumer is a king as he can kneel down the trader and the public when organized. Unfortunately, the consumer was not organized and lived under the iron shoes of the trader and industrialist until recently when some concerned activists and leaders gave leadership to consumer as an aggrieved group needing assistance. It is President who stated in 1960, that consumer is a group not organized and weak left unnoticed as an aggrieved section of the society that needs to be promoted and helped formation of the consumer international an the world consumer day celebrated world over organizing and promoting advanced consumer regimes selecting different hems that needs promotions such as junk food defective consumer items that let the UN guidelines for consumerism to be implemented. In the west the consumer movement is powerful with media support and with the network of consumer organizations. The situation in Sri Lanka and less developed countries is underdeveloped due to the powerful trader and manufacturer who are financially and socially powerful. In UK when powerful Coco Kola used water from river Thames it is media who came forward with the consumer to kneel down the company to use purified water, though still cola has continued to be unhealthy yet flourish world over with the power  of media money and strength. Consumer International that promotes world consumer day is an voluntary international organization assisting thr consumer to organize themselves and taking the side of the consumer for their rights for consumer items of quality for a reasonable prize. In Sri Lanka the consumer is suppressed neglected and cheated by the errant trader and it is time the governance intervenes and the consumer organized. CAA is expected to assist promote and set up consumer organizations but there are few or no consumer organizations in Sri Lanka and the governance, and public is equally blamed for not asserting their own rights misused and exploited by trader and those in power. In the United Kingdom the consumer is adequately protected by law and organizations whilst the trader is rich protected and organized therebetween is balance of power struggle.

Theme of the year 2026

Product Safety and satisfied consumer is the theme of this year, when many countroes all over the world uses this date to organize the consumer to improve the quality of life and fight against exploration by the trader and allies. It is noted that on 15^th March 2016 a seminar is scheduled at the organization of professionals association with inauguration of a onsumer text book with 1000 pages to the nation with a detaild information to be used by the public, student and professional in  a country consumerism is less developed with a weak and inactive regulator CAA which needs changes as no changes or improvements have not taken since the introduction in year 2003 despite drastic  changes on consumerism in the door steps of the Artificial Interglacial era.

Consumer transections

Any consumer transection is not simple. Consumer buying a loaf of bread from the corner shop comes under bread ordinance, Consumer regulation, price regulation and the local authority regulations. This applies to any compleacated transection on e- commerce and international platforms in our country today with 110% penetration of mobile phones and IT with educated society with modern knowledge on the finger tips, credit to our consumers.

Why WCD What are they going to achieve

It is an exercise to educate and organize consumer is a cordial and friendly atmosphere with no confrontation. May mini or major wars static shortages prices and the lust of the citizen that can be resolved on discussion and separating the rights and duties of parties concerned. It is the duty of the citizen to understand the realities in life and co-exist with the trader, regulate and other parties in q a cordial atmosphere for o existence with no major rivalries. Sarath Wijesinghe PC Solicitor in England and Wales wijesinghe sarath05@gmail.com