LNP - High coconut prices: No Sambol, Kiri Hodi in canteens

Serving of coconut Sambol (salad made of scraped coconut meat) and Kiri Hodi (gravy made of coconut milk) has been stopped at canteens in most of the places across the country due to the high prices of coconuts in the market, according to Harshana Rukshan who is the head of All Ceylon Canteen Operators' Association. The coconut prices have soared in the market, with the price of a nut being as high as Rs.200 in some instances. Mr.Rukshan said that prices of food items would be increased by 30 per cent at canteens due to high costs of rice, eggs, salt and coconut. He said the price of chicken had increased from Rs.1,200 a kilo to Rs.1,280. According to him, hopper making and preparation of lunch parcels for sale at domestic level have also been hit by high coconut prices.