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It’s festive time in Pettah: Shoppers and traders say things could be better
View(s):Christmas celebrations are round the corner and the streets are relatively busy with shoppers and the shops decked in festive decor. Amidst this festive air the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) says it has stepped up checks and issued a gazette on December 6, under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act of 2003,to fix the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) on four consumer items.
Isuri Weerasooriya shopping around in Pettah for Christmas decorations for her office. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Accordingly the MRP for mysore dhal is Rs.130 per kg , dried fish – Katta Rs.1,000 per kg, Salaya Rs. 425per kg and Coconut Rs. 75 per nut.
CAA chairman Hasitha Tillekeratne added that raids are always intensified during any festive season because as sales increase, traders tend to engage in illegal acts.
“We make around 70,000 raids a year and prosecute around 25,000 individuals,” he said adding that the gazette will also be strictly implemented regarding electrical items, where each item should carry a minimum warranty period and the warranty should be issued in all three languages. He said in addition to food items and electrical items officers will keep a close check on cosmetics and apparel.
Meanwhile a stroll down the busy streets of Pettah gave us the opportunity to speak to shoppers and traders.
S.H.M. Azam (52 years) who has been selling Christmas trees for the past 30 years says the crowds haven’t yet picked up in comparison to last year.
Having studied the market for years, Azam says peoples needs change every year but Christmas trees never go out of fashion and although the sales are not yet brisk, he expects it to pick up after the 10th.
K. Sarath, who sells Christmas decorations says the prevailing cost of living maybe the reason for less crowds in Pettah and believes people will wait towards the end of the month for salaries and bonuses to begin their festive shopping.
“I have done about Rs. 30,000 worth of business. In previous years by the first two weeks of December I do more than Rs. 50,000 worth of sales. But I am hopeful that the crowd would start coming in after the 10th.
M. Rajana-yagam
We meet Isuri Weerasooriya who works in a foreign manufacturing company and was strolling around looking to buy Christmas decorations for her workplace.
“This is the first time I am shopping for Christmas with a provided a budget of Rs.30,000 and I felt that the prices were quite reasonable.”
Susila Jayaraj who comes from Mulleriyawa is an annual shopper in Pettah during Christmas time.
“In comparison to previous years items seem to be a little more expensive this year, not just decorations but almost all the items,” she says.
However, she said in spite of the price increase, Pettah is the place to purchase things at a reasonable price and people tend to keep coming back, she believes.
Thirty-six-year-old Mohomed Naizer believes that the past two weeks saw a reasonable crowd and believes it will soon increase in numbers.
“This is the time of the year when every vendor earns extra and everyone has business. The income is always more than three times the normal earnings a day,” he said.
Manori Rajapakse, a frequent Pettah shopper usually does her shopping in the first two weeks of December to avoid the rush.
Manori Rajapakse
Although she says the prices seem to have increased on all items she still feels the prices are still reasonable in Pettah and its a convenient place to shop.
C.M.Ansar, a curtain seller for 20 years says he is satisfied with his sales.
“The past two weeks drew a reasonable number of shoppers who want to buy stuff before they are sold out.”
However M. Rajanayagam, a garment shop owner said currently he was engaged in routine business and Christmas shoppers will start flocking by the third week of December.
“I have been running this shop for more than 25 years and I think that the current economic situation is affecting people’s purchasing power and they will start shopping closer to Christmas.”
K. Sarath
Mohomed Naizer
S.H.M. Azam