Sri Lankan toddy tappers profit during Covid 19

By Dinasena Rathugamage 

The earnings of toddy tappers in the Northern peninsula have risen almost by 250 percent during the lockdown imposed according to the Northern Province Corporatative Development Board. 

While Toddy manufacturers in the North belong to the Toddy Manufacturers Association controlled by the Northern Province Corporatative Development Board, officials from the board said toddy taverns were closed during the lockdown according to quarantine regulations. 

However, the officials noted that despite the closure of taverns toddy tappers had sold toddy in their villages which has led to them earning massive profits. 

According to one toddy tapper from the region prior to the curfew, one glass of toddy was sold at Rs. 100. However, following the lockdown, he said they were able to sell one glass of toddy for around Rs. 400 or Rs. 500. 

He also said that often villagers would visit places where they were tapping toddy to purchase. “We didn’t have a way to sell in taverns so instead we sold it in our villages to anyone who wished to purchase” he added.