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Pettah businesses await more New Year shoppers
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New Year shoppers at Pettah: The crowds are less, say traders. Pix by Anurada Bandara
The usual festive feeling is in the air and people are busy shopping, preparing sweetmeats and making other preparations for the much-awaited National New Year that dawns in a few days.
From Friday onwards, outstation bus stands were filling up with people taking advantage of the long-weekend to travel to their hometowns.
Shops selling shoes, garments, electronic items, textiles and even hardware items were offering huge discounts as much of as 70 per cent, on the original prices.
On a stroll through the busy streets of Pettah we witnessed a hive of activity with owners of business enterprises hoping for more business as the National New Year day drew closer.
Isuru Ishaan, an employee of a clothing shop said he was expecting bigger crowds from Monday onwards.
Francis Sanjeewa, a vendor who travels daily from Homagama and has a small clothes stall by the side of the road said, in previous years people were jostling each other to buy his stuff but this year the crowds were much thinner.
D.S.W.Silva, who has been in the garment business for 37 years, said, he was having good sales while J.M. Shantha who is in the same business said in previous years Pettah was so crowded he would not have had time to even answer questions. However, he was optimistic that crowds will increase in the coming days.
M.Shafi, who has been in the clothing trade for 30 years, said, “We earned a huge profit last year. I am not sure if it will be the same this year. But let’s see there is more time for Avurudu.”
Mohommed Shiyam an employee at a sweet shop said sales have been moderate so far but it will pick closer to Avurudu day.
Mallika Weragoda, who year in and year out comes from Horana to Colombo to do her Avurudu shopping, said, many people are unable to enjoy the festive season as they used to in the past due to economic hardships.
Isuru-Ishantha
| Sathosa food basket at a lower costThis season consumers can buy a food basket with essentials to the value of Rs. 1500 for Rs. 975, at Lanka Sathosa outlets.Chairman T.M.K.B. Tennakoon said the government has introduced this to help people faced with a high cost of living. The basket includes a kilo of Dhal, 500g Potato, 1 kg of Big Onion, 2 kg Rice, 500g dried sprats, 1kg Sugar, 425 g canned fish, 200g Chillie Pieces, 500 g Green Gram and 400g Sathosa Milk Powder. “There are more than 380 Sathosa outlets islandwide and the consumers can purchase the food basket at any of these. Consumer Affairs Authority officials will oversee the process,” the chairman said, adding that the consumers will have to produce their National Identity Card to make the purchase. Mr. Tennakoon said this was the first time such a move had been introduced. |
J.M. Shantha
| More trains, more busesFrom April 7 more trains have been added for the convenience of the public, The Railways Department said. Railways Operating Sueperintendent Vijaya Samarasinghe said these additional trains will run until April 17. He said passengers have been asked to be vigilant about their own safety and their belongings. He said passengers should avoid travelling on the footboards and also have minimal contact with unknown people. Sri Lanka Transportation Board (SLTB) Chairman Ramal Siriwardene said additional buses have been plying since Thursday. He said chief regional managers and operations managers have been asked to monitor transportation facilities and to see whether there were sufficient buses in operation. Meanwhile Lanka Private Bus Association Trade Union Alliance head Stanley Fernando said their buses will be in operation especially in outstation areas. |
Mallika Weragoda
M.Shafi
D.W. Silva