The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification setting new maximum retail prices for locally packaged or bottled drinking water (PET bottles), with effect from today (10).
The new price control order was issued by the CAA, acting under the powers vested in it by Section 20 (5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 9. of 2003.
Accordingly, manufacturers, packers, distributors and traders are prohibited from selling, displaying or offer to sell locally packaged/ bottled drinking water at prices exceeding the prescribed maximum retail prices.
The CAA further stated that the new price control order rescinds the previous order (No. 93) published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2430/15 dated 01 April 2025.
The revised maximum retail prices are as follows:
Volume Range of Water Bottle Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) | Maximum Retail Price |
| 500 ml - 999 ml | Rs. 80.00 |
| 1 litre - 1.499 litres | Rs. 120.00 |
| 1.5 litres - 1.999 litres | Rs. 150.00 |
| 2 litres - 2.499 litres | Rs. 180.00 |
| 5 litres - 6.999 litres | Rs. 400.00 |
Accordingly, the maximum retail price per bottle of 500ml to 999ml water bottles has been increased by Rs. 10; Rs. 20 per bottle of 01 litre to 01.499 litres, 1.5 litres to 01.999 litres, 2 litres to 2.499 litres and an increase of Rs. 50 on the MRP of 5 litres to 06.999 litres.
The CAA said that islandwide inspections and raids will be carried out to identify traders selling drinking water bottles above the approved maximum retail prices in violation of these orders.
