𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍 ( දුක් ගන්නා රාළ )

 

 

 

 

Lunch is often a mundane affair, but sometimes, it opens windows into realities we seldom consider. Today, while enjoying a meal at a restaurant, a young server approached to check if we needed anything else. Polite and eager to please, she hesitated when I asked her how she felt about her job. Pressing further, I inquired about her salary. Though reluctant at first, she eventually disclosed it—a meagre amount. However, what followed struck a chord in my conscience. She revealed a troubling truth: diners sometimes leave without paying their bills. The loss isn’t shouldered by the establishment but passed on to the servers, deducted from their already modest earnings. Bottled water theft, in particular, posed a significant issue. Last month alone, the total unpaid cost exceeded Rs. 50,000, divided among 14 servers. Imagine the indignity of working long hours, catering to customers with a smile, only to have your wages docked because of someone else’s dishonesty. What drives such behavio...