25 March 2022 02:59 pm Views - 6170
Due to the increase in the prices of essential ingredients used to make lunch packets by 500% in the local market, the selling prices of lunch packets have been increased, All Island Canteen Owners' Association (AICOA) Chief Asela Sampath said.
He told the Daily Mirror that the prices of ingredients have increased in the local market on daily basis.
He said there are several groups that are behind increasing prices of essential commodities daily in view to gain higher profits without paying any taxes to the government. As a result, the poor consumers have become victims of these malpractices, he said.
A kg of chicken, which was previously sold at Rs.370, has now gone up to Rs.1,000.The price of an egg has topped Rs. 33. A kg of coconut oil to Rs. 1,100, dhal, which was at Rs.100, being sold at Rs.400, and a kg of chilli powder has crossed the Rs.1,400 mark. Therefore, the canteen owners have to increase the price of a lunch packet to cope with the increase in the price of the ingredients.
People used to have plain tea (Rs.30) and a parata (Rs. 20) for Rs. 50 at a time. The price increase of ingredients will cause an increase in the prices of plain-tea and parata soon. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)