University authorities and canteen owners alike shed some light on how lunch packets at University canteens are sold at such nominal prices following comments by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena on the Wada Pitiya show on TV Derana.

The Minister claimed while debating his much talked about theory that Rs.2500 a month was enough for a person to survive in Sri Lanka, that the lunch packets sold at the Colombo University by privately owned canteens that aimed at making profits, were priced in a range around Rs.25 to Rs.30.

However, University authorities and canteen workers stated that the University itself does not charge the canteens for electricity, water or gas which allowed the lunch packets to be sold at lower prices.

The Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University, Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama stated that a small fee is charged for electricity but not for water while gas is not provided.

Meanwhile, Asela Sampath, National Organizer of the All Island Canteen Owners Association stated that at the stipulated prices, it is not possible to sell food of acceptable quality.

He explained that the vegetables and rice used for these lunch packets were often the refuse from the Manning market while no additional spices were used while preparing these meals.

Sampath further stated that this was the quality of service that they could provide under these price caps.