I was having lunch at a reputed 5 star hotel restaurant with some business colleagues. We requested water and as usual bottles of water were supplied. I did not mind as bottled water was considered more hygienic.

I have a habit of checking date of manufacture and therefore I carefully read the label on my bottle.

It read as follows

Water Source - Pipe Borne Public Water Supply

Maximum Retail Price 150/-

Bottled by - Name of 5* hotel, Colombo

BOTTLED DRINKING WATER

1000 ml

It had SLS 894

ISO 22000 Certified Hotel

Health Ministry Reg No CFA/BW/84/2007/10

Public are hoodwinked to have bottled water from Pipe Borne Public Water Supply and charged Rs 150 for 1000 Ml

SLS mark is given to bottled water from Pipe Borne Public Water Supply

Is this promotion of Tourism or plain extortion? Will someone responsible answer this query in the public interest?