No milk tea in canteens

The All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) yesterday announced that they would stop serving milk tea due to the sudden increase in imported milk powder.

AICOA Head Asela Sampath said they could not provide milk tea to their customers because there was also a shortage of milk powder.

The government has also directed them to use disposable cups.

“Given that there is a pandemic this is a good regulation. However the price of a disposable plastic cup is Rs. 7 now. It was only Rs. 3 not so long ago,” Sampath said.

Thus, they also have problems in determining a price for tea as well. “We have to add another Rs. 7 for the price of tea. This increases the prices.”

“Already thousands of eateries have been closed down. Prices of food have gone up. Rent has gone up.”