Asela Sampath, President of the All Ceylon Restaurant Owners’ Association, says that many people who dine at restaurants are buying cheaper foods such as paratha and wade. The reason for this is that people cannot afford the minimum price of a parcel of rice.
At present the price of a parcel of rice with vegetables alone has exceeded Rs. 200. A parcel of rice with chicken has gone up to Rs. 300 and a parcel of rice with fish has gone up to Rs. 240. Asela Sampath points out that due to this many people find it difficult to buy a parcel of rice.
Asela Sampath says that people have to make ends meet with low-cost snacks instead of rice, which shows how difficult it is for ordinary people to quench their hunger.
Restaurant owners point out that the prices of food items such as wheat flour, coconut oil and other foods could increase further and as a result, people will not be able to afford the prices of foods such as wade and paratha in the future.
