Right of Reply Paradise Cove Midigama responds to Daily Mirror article

The following is a statement made by Paradise Cove Midigama in response to an article published in the Daily Mirror on December 30 titled ‘A lunch in Midigama and an unexpected Euro Bill’ penned by Giselle Gunewardene

‘We are issuing this statement to correct several material inaccuracies published about Paradise Cove Midigama and to provide the verified context that was not checked prior to publication.

What is inaccurate or not fact-checked in the published piece;

 A - “Payment could not be made in Sri Lankan Rupees” / “card payments processed only in Euros.”

This is false. Guests can pay in LKR, and our card payment facility is able to process LKR transactions. Our card terminals (EDC machines) are bank-issued and operate in compliance with Sri Lankan banking requirements.

B - “The menu listed all prices in Sri Lankan Rupees with no mention of Euros.”

This is misleading. Our pricing has not “changed day-to-day.” Our menu has consistently presented LKR pricing clearly, with an optional reference conversion for guests who wish to understand Euro values. The Euro listing does not override the LKR pricing or the ability to pay in LKR.

C - “Businesses aren’t permitted to compel customers to pay in foreign currency for domestic services.”

We agree with the underlying principle that the Sri Lankan Rupee is legal tender in Sri Lanka. The Monetary Law Act explicitly states that currency notes and coins issued by the Central Bank are legal tender for payment of any amount.

That is precisely why we do not compel local guests to pay in a foreign currency.

Regardless, our position remains simple: we accept LKR and operate transparently.

D - “Several attempts… via calls, WhatsApp and email proved futile.”

This is also not verified in the article as published. We received an email to the booking enquiry inbox request and responded constructively as soon as we were given a proper opportunity to do so. Publishing allegations of non-cooperation without demonstrating verifiable outreach logs or delivery confirmation is irresponsible.

Our operating practice (for clarity):

•  Menu prices are in LKR, clearly shown.
•  LKR payments are accepted.
•  We primarily accept card payments to maintain transparency, reduce risk of misrepresentation, and support regulatory compliance.
•  Any Euro figure shown on menus or in discussion is an optional reference for convenience, not a payment requirement.

 On “consumer rights” and transparency:

We support transparency and informed consent. If any guest felt confused at the point of payment, we encourage them to contact management directly so we can review the receipt trail and terminal transaction details, and resolve it properly. However, presenting an unverified narrative as fact—particularly one that implies illegality or discrimination against locals—causes reputational harm to a lawful local employer and the staff who depend on our business.

For full transparency, our menu is publicly available here:

https://paradisecovemidigama.com/menu/

Writer’s note: 

The writer stands by her story and reiterates that the facts written in the article are correct.

To support the writer’s note we produced the following screenshots of the Credit Card Slip and the Debit Card Payment Confirmation. Also produced are the screenshots of comments from DM Instagram for the article