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Christmas time: Bad weather and high costs
View(s):By Aanya Wipulasena
The adverse weather conditions and the high cost of living have put a damper on the usual seasonal shopping spree, heralding a not so bright Christmas for many.
Come buy my wares:A vendor selling Christmas decorations. Pix by Mangala Weerasekera
Malini Perera (62) from Rattanapitiya, a mother of two said celebrations were on a low key this year round.
“We didn’t buy any decorations this year. We are using our old Christmas tree and decorations because the expenses are very high. We are not buying gifts this year and if we do they’ll be low cost ones. It is indeed sad to think that this special day is going to be just another day for us,” she said.
C. Chandrasekera from Kelaniya and employed at the Bank of Ceylon said, “Not so long ago for Rs.1000 we could buy a good gift. This time we find it hard to buy things for Christmas. Even the price of decorations is high although in some places in the Pettah market we can get them at a fair price.
The escalating price of vegetables and other food items are also a concern for many. Nilu Fernando (35) from Ja ela complained that the price of the traditional cake ingredients was high. “Eggs, raisins, flour and other items are expensive. I have three children and they wanted to celebrate Christmas well. It is a hard time for the middle class,” she said.
For others nature has given them a bitter blow just before Christmas. In Ambalangoda 42 year old Ranjani Handunwela said she will not celebrate Christmas this year as their home was flooded. “It is heartbreaking because the people in most areas were hit by floods just a week before Christmas. The Catholics in my area were getting ready to celebrate. We even purchased a small Christmas tree which got caught in the floods in addition to furniture and electronic items,” she lamented.
Up north Karteeswaran (28) in Jaffna said people still buy decorations and other commodities although the prices had gone up. “It’s much higher than last year. This and the climate have made Christmas not that merry for many in Jaffna district,” he said.
J. Steve (32) is a small scale gem businessman from Ratnapura. “For me and my family Christmas this year is fairly okay. Even though it is not as good as it was in previous years we purchased the most important items. We are also planning to give a meal to some children who come from low income families,” he said.
On the other side of the spectrum vendors and shop owners complain their sales have been drastically hit. Jagath Priyantha, owner of a Christmas decorations shop in Borelesgamuwa said this year’s sales are low or in some cases it’s a case of no sales at all.
“We are selling decorations at last year’s prices because people are reluctant to spend more. Many come in and leave when they hear the prices,” he said. Priyantha a father of two said that he was hopeful of heralding a good new year with his family using the profit he got from the sales. “But I won’t be able to do so as less and less people are buying decorations this year,” he said.
Sarath Jayawardena from Kiribathgoda sells decorations and other electronic items at the Pettah market. He has quite a different view point. He says people have been frightened by the rumours about the three days of darkness.
“People are not buying much this year because they believe that the world’s going to end this month. Some came up to me and asked me why I’m selling all these items if the world was going to end. I don’t think I’ll be able to do any sales. I’ll have to store them and sell them again next year,” he said.
However some vendors in Pettah were a cheerful lot because they were given permission to sell their wares on the roadside from December 6 to January 5.
R. A. Chaminda (37) from Kelaniya is a father of three and a full time three wheeler driver. However this season he put up a fruit stall at the Pettah market. “I earn a fairly good income from the fruit sales than I did driving a three wheeler. This Christmas month has been much better than others,” he said.
A father of three Wijitha Perera (42) from Rajagiriya is also a roadside electronic items vendor at the Pettah market. However for him things have not been that bright.
“We are allowed to put these road side stalls for two months of the year. This is not enough because then we have to store these items at home and wait till the next season comes,” Wijitha who supplements his income by doing some hard labour said.
All set for the season
The Sri Lanka Transport Board commenced a special bus service from the Central bus stand in Pettah by deploying 150 additional buses. The special services that started on December 21 will continue till tomorrow while another will operate from December 28 to 30.
Meanwhile police spokesman, Prashantha Jayakody said they too were ready with a special plan. “The number of police officers will be doubled at every public place during the season and police in civvies will be deployed in many places to avert any violence taking place. Regulations on drunk driving will be strictly enforced because road traffic accidents are high during this period,” he said.
Pushpa Ramyani De Zoysa of the Accident Ward, National Hospital Colombo sharing her views said, “People are in a hurry during this period. They slip and fall, leave small children unattended, aren’t careful with fire or electrical items. We request the public to be very careful because celebrations could end up in tragedy because of small errors,” she said.
She also warned that it was important to wear seatbelts, helmets and take other relevant precautions to avoid road traffic accidents that are usually high during the season.
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