Minister Bathiudeen, launching Sri Lanka's International Consumer Rights Day in Vavuniya yesterday (15th March) stressed the importance of Sathosa as "a public asset."

Lanka Sathosa is the single largest state owned Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) network in the country.  The necessary steps will be taken by the government to expand its 311 present network up to 500 outlets by 2017.  According to the Sathosa, it has incurred monthly losses of Rs.150 million till recent times.

“In fact we will transform SATHOSA to become an efficient public institution, delivering great customer service excellence to Lankan consumers in par with any private supermarket chain in the country”, Minister added.

The first ever national consumer rights event “Consumer Rewards Week” in Sri Lanka was launched on 14th March and will end on 20th March. Around 60 leading brands will offer 8000 items on discount through 10000 sales outlets across the country in this first ever Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) initiative.