The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has confirmed it has conducted 119 special raids across the country to monitor the sale of Atapirikara and other Pirikara items.

According to the CAA, the raids were carried out to protect consumer rights and ensure that traders comply with legal requirements when selling Buddhist monastic requisites.

During the inspections, officials inspected whether the required information was displayed on the products or their packaging and whether traders were complying with relevant legal provisions. They also examined receipts, invoices and other documents that traders are required to maintain.

The CAA said officers had taken into custody 436 items including Atapirikara sets, robes, adanakada, alms bowls and other Pirikara items found to be in violation of the law.

CAA officers also reportedly randomly selected and opened Atapirikara sets to examine the individual items contained inside.

Several irregularities were uncovered during the raids, according to the CAA. These included single-layer robes being provided instead of the required double-layer robes, incomplete Atapirikara sets, variations in the items included according to the price, aluminium alms bowls, dented bowls and rusted razor blades.

The CAA said further action would be taken against traders found to be violating the relevant laws.