News
Now, it’s beginning to look like Christmas
With less than a week for Christmas, the festive feeling is slowly descending on Sri Lanka, aided by the Pope’s scheduled visit in January.
Shoppers buying Christmas decorations in Pettah
In Colombo city, roundabouts are sprouting Christmas trees while Baby Jesus sleeps in a stable outside Churches and Christian schools.
Established businesses beautify their shops with baubles, tinsel and gold stars while food outlets and bakeries stock up their shelves with seasonal goodies like Breudher, fruit cake, yule logs and mince pies.
Super markets are offering subsidised rates on items and various prize draws are being organised to encourage Christmas shoppers.
Street vendors are seen selling Christmas decorations and ceramic Santa Claus ornaments along the Malwatta Street of Pettah and the Dehiwala junction.
“Our sales have increased this month. Now that the war is over, we are able to sell in the north too. The only problem this year is we don’t have a lot of stuff to sell because not many importers brought in goods from China,” said B. Nilantha who has sold his wares on the Pettah streets for 25 years.
The good cheer that flows in with the cool Christmas winds have also been felt by the people.
Decked up for Christmas: Two leading hotels in the city. Pix by Athula Bandara
“Christmas is good so far. Goods are expensive but no problem. I came to Colombo to buy new decorations,” said A. Josphine from Trincomalee.
Meanwhile Airlines are offering special holiday packages to popular holiday destinations like Malaysia and Singapore. Hotels bordering the Galle Face Green have decked their lobbies with Poinsettia flower decorations and rigifoam snowmen to spread Christmas joy amongst seasonal customers.
Under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Colombo, the annual Naththal Kalapaya (Christmas Zone) is being set up from the Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando Mw. to the Negombo city. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is to conduct the midnight mass at the St. Anthony’s church of Kadolana, Moratuwa.
Preparations are also being made for the Pope’s visit. People are excited and supportive of it, said Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando spokesman for the Media Secretariat for the Pope’s visit
A. Josphine from Trincomalee
Carol services are also being held islandwide. Among them the Diocese of Colombo organised a tri lingual carol service at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour on December 14. The Hambantota St. Mary’s church choir held a service too. In Galle the Holly Childhood Rally was held on December 15 where children from Catholic missions across the Southern province took part. The Diocese of Galle will conduct the Christmas mass at the Boosa Detention Centre.
“We are insisting on spiritual preparations,” said the Galle Bishop, Rev. Raymond Wickramasinghe.
The Batticaloa Christian Union organised a carol service last Sunday. However, the festive mood is late to hit the district due to the rains brought in by the North Eastern monsoon.
In Jaffna, the army plans to conduct a carol service at the Jaffna grounds.
“The people here are excited about the Pope’s visit. Many want to go to Madu to see him,” said Jaffna Bishop, Rev. Thomas Savundranayagam.
Christmas goodies for sale
The expected influx of people during the season into and out of the capital city has prompted the Transport Ministry to deploy additional buses and trains.
The Sri Lanka Transport Board has got 1250 new buses. These will be deployed in areas such as Kandy, Kurunegala, Jaffna and Hatton. “We will also launch shuttle services from the Pettah central bus stand to Negombo, Moratuwa and Chilaw from December 24 to 26, said an official of the SLTB.
According to Sri Lanka Railways, a new weekend train service from Colombo to Kandy and Jaffna was launched for the season. It would operate till the end of the month.
Police will also deploy 3000 additional police officers around Colombo to ensure law and order during the Christmas season. A new traffic plan and parking plan would be in place around popular shopping zones. Cities like Mt. Lavinia, Sri. Jayawardenapura Kotte and Kadawatha will also come under this special plan, police spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana said.
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) is also taking steps to minimise consumer exploitation by businesses.
“We are sending out three surveillance teams in Colombo and Gampaha. They will keep a close check in areas like Orugodawatta, Wattala and Hendala to make sure that unnecessary buffer stocks aren’t kept by vendors to create artificial price rises,” CAA Director General J.M.A Douglas said.