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High prices drive Avurudu shoppers away
View(s):By Mirudhula Thambiah
It’s going to be an expensive National New Year this time. This was the general sentiment among shoppers in Pettah, the place where many head to, to get a good bargain during any festive season. P.H Wijedasa, a public sector employee from Elpitiya was among those who the Sunday Times spoke to to gauge the mood among shoppers. “With the fuel and gas price increases the prices of food items have gone up and with the upcoming electricity tariff rise its going to be an expensive Avurudu this year,” he lamented.
 Dhammika Arambawela: Heading for the pavement |
 Mohammed Ajmal, cloth vendor: Optimistic |
Although shops in Pettah were stacked with goods, people were seen mainly flocking to the pavement stalls where the prices were much less. Shop owners say in general the crowd was less this year compared to last year. Although they believe that their profits will be much less this time since overhead expenses were higher due to hikes in electricity and water they were optimistic that business would pick up the following week.
H.M Uthayakumara, a pavement vendor from Nuwara Eliya, who has a stall down Main Street complained that business was down.
“Last year there was a bigger demand for goods during the same period. We did not have to wait until April for the business to reach optimum level. I have to pay a rent of Rs. 1, 000 a day. Since there is a drop in the business, profit will be less this year therefore the rent should be allocated from the investment,” he said.
However, Mohammed Ajmal, a cloth vendor in Pettah believes that the spending power of the consumer was better this year.
Meanwhile, the salesmen at shopping outlets and stores in Main Street also complained that business was down. They said when customers complained that prices were high they pointed out that hikes in fuel, electricity, water etc had forced them to jack up the prices of goods.
A curtain material vendor, M. Rajendran said by this time last year people were buying much more. “Even if people are in the Avurudu spirit the business in big shops have dropped and the crowds are relatively small,” he complained. Sounding more optimistic, Main Street DSI showroom Manager Thilak Sahabandu was certain that after April 5 business should pickup. “Sales will increase closer to avurudu. I believe that the sales will balance with expected profit within the upcoming week,” he said.
But a majority of the consumers said prices of almost everything, especially clothes and footwear had shot up. They said pavement vendors sold goods at reasonable prices but they were uncertain of the quality. Dhammika Arambawela, a housewife from Makola appeared to be content with pavement shopping as the goods were much cheaper.
“You can find a good choice in the pavement stalls. If one wants to celebrate Avurudu one cannot be looking at the quality of the stuff,” she said. A vegetable vendor in Maradana Perumal Nanadakumar said there was a drop in sales even though the prices of some vegetables had reduced due to a bumper harvest.
However he said, he too expected things to get better as the National New Year got closer as people usually bought more vegetables during this time of year. A grocery shop owner in Maradana, Thilak de Silva painted a bleak picture. “If this trend continues I will have to give up my business as the revenue has reduced by 75 percent. People usually bought goods during the weekends but that habit too changed. The recent fuel price hike and electricity tariff increase will hit the business community badly,” he said.
He pointed out that although the prices of grocery items had come down relatively there is little demand for large quantities. He sells a kilo of rice for Rs. 70, big onions for Rs. 80, garlic for Rs. 300 and dried chillies for Rs. 260.
More buses and trains, say authorities
As in previous years the Sri Lanka Transport Board and Railways Department will introduce additional train and bus services, while Traffic police will get tough on errant drivers.
Traffic DIG Amarasiri Senaratne said a special team of policemen will check on drunk-driving during the season. Meanwhile Sri Lanka Railways Operating Superintend L.A.R Ratnayake said special intercity and express train services will be available to travel to areas such as Badulla, Matara and Kalutara. The number of compartments in the regular trains would also be increased.
Transport Board Deputy Chairman L. A. Wimalaratne said there would be special bus services from Nugegoda, Negombo, Colombo and Katunayake to outstations from April 5 to 20 while a 24 hour bus service would be introduced within Colombo and the suburbs.
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