The serving of coconut Sambol, a salad made from scraped coconut meat, and Kiri Hodi, a gravy made with coconut milk, has been halted in many canteens across the country due to skyrocketing coconut prices. Harshana Rukshan, the head of the All Ceylon Canteen Operators’ Association, highlighted that the market price of coconuts has reached as high as Rs.200 per nut.
As a result of these increased costs, Rukshan anticipates a 30 percent rise in food item prices at canteens. He noted that other essential food items are also experiencing price hikes, including rice, eggs, and salt. Additionally, the price of chicken has risen from Rs.1,200 to Rs.1,280 per kilo, further straining the budgets of canteen operators.
The impact of high coconut prices extends beyond canteens; it has also affected the preparation of hoppers and lunch parcels for domestic sales. The escalating prices are significantly altering the food landscape, pushing canteens to reconsider their menus and pricing strategies to cope with the financial pressures imposed by rising ingredient costs.
