Whirling into 2000

By Nilika de Silva

Sri Lanka entered the new millennium in a whirl of activity, with larger numbers at work during the dawn of the year 2000 than seen in previous Years.

Due to the fear psychosis concerning the Y2K problem, thousands of professionals gave up their dancing shoes in favour of seeing the new year in 'in office'.

Employees working in the field of IT, such as banks, airports (control towers), television stations and other places of importance to the public, were in big demand. Many companies paid mega bonuses to employees who sacrificed their 31st night to baby-sit the Y2K imp.

The pay checks for the few hours spanning the end of 1999 and the beginning of the year 2000 went as high as Rs. 25,000.

Meanwhile, shoppers who were being held back by the elections hit the streets soon after, running from store to store as if their lives depended on getting the best bargain. Fashion House one of the biggest in the business operated the novel concept of having their doors open 24 hours a day, and shoppers were seen streaming in right up to the evening of the 31st.

The cracker and firework stalls drew the crowds and the roads appeared to be in a frenzy, creating endless traffic blocks in Colombo, as people rushed around preparing to welcome a brand new millennium.

A special traffic plan was put into place to take care of the traffic from 8 p.m. on 31st night, DIG Traffic Police, Camillus Abeygoonewardena said.

Parking restrictions had been made to provide a free flow of traffic in and around Galle Face, Fort and Slave Island areas, while a one-way traffic scheme was put into operation on Galle Face Centre Road and several other roads. The Traffic Police had also been stationed to nab those driving under the influence of liquor.

Many different ceremonies had been planned to bid the old millennium farewell and welcome the new millennium in, and peace was given a place of prominence in this year's celebrations.

On Galle Face Green, 31st afternoon was dedicated to stitching the largest ever peace flag, the brain child of Dilan Perera Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Ethnic Integration. The public was called to join in this project by adding squares of material to make the flag larger.

Another program was the lighting of lamps for peace.

January 1 being a Saturday, was a leisurely day with people still going about in a festive mood celebrating the fact that the long awaited Year 2000, had finally come. Armed forces personnel were seen maintaining tight security in and around the city.

Millennium balls: bowled out

By Nilika de Silva

It was not an ordinary New Year's eve, but the momentous eve of a new century and a new millennium. Yet the turnout for five-star hotel bashes was even less than on a normal new year's eve and many glittering ballrooms were left with lots of empty tables.

Hotel officers attributed to the drop mainly to security tensions arising from the suicide attacks on the President on December 18, but revellers said ticket prices were far too high. The Galadari Hotel had even cancelled an event due to the poor sale of tickets. Lobby Manager Ralph De Visser said that in addition to the drop in ticket sales even the occupancy rate in the hotel had dropped due to the December 18 incidents.

Another five star hotel's dinner dance which had laid it out for 300 guests, had a turnout of less than 200.

Other hotels also reported that by late evening on the 31st, they still had hundreds of tickets for sale.

Millennium fever appeared to have been considerably dampened due to reasons within and without the hoteliers reach, mainly the exorbitant pricing of tickets and the tension regarding security in the city.

Another reason for the poor turnout was the high cost of tickets. Some big hotels had gone as staggeringly high as Rs. 35,000 per head.

Hotel executives put part of the blame on the musical groups saying they had demanded higher rates this year because of the momentous significance.

One well-known group reportedly got about Rs. 2 million for the night.

While hotels were left with empty tables, there were many more house parties where little groups gathered to roll out the barrel of fun to boom in the millennium.

The highly-publicised Galle Face Green millennium show drew about 100,000 people — much less than half a million expected by the organisers. Security was tight and every person was body checked.

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