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With many people still languishing in camps after the tsunami, the kavili-makers have poor sales this avurudu
Last thing on their mind
By Vidushi Seneviratne
The Sinhala and Hindu New Year is just a few days away. But for a significant number, the festivities are on a low key this year. With many being affected by last December's disastrous tsunami, residents of the south, the east and the northern coasts have bigger issues on their minds.

Take a drive down the south coast and you will see camps for the displaced still lining Galle Road, with most people now battling with the April showers as well.

Another group indirectly affected by the tsunami this season, is the sweetmeat or kavili makers. There will be a significant drop in demand for kavum, kokis and the many other sweetmeats this year in keeping with the mood of the people. This apart, for 75-year-old Violet Fernando from Maggona, carrying on the business itself has become a problem due to the high cost of living.

A professional kavili maker, Violet began this business over 40 years ago. "I learnt the art on my own and started making all types of sweetmeats on a small scale. Later, I took orders from big establishments. The biggest problem now is the cost of the ingredients. Those days I used to give a kavuma for about three rupees, but now I have to sell it for about eight."

In good years, Violet makes about 3,000 kavum and about 6,000 mung kavum during the festive season. To keep up with the orders, she gets the assistance of her daughter-in-law and three others, since age and illness have crept up on her. "This art is dying and there aren't many people who can create the perfect konde kavuma. It comes with practice and if there are any young people who are interested in learning this art, I will gladly teach them without keeping any guru mushtiya (teacher's secrets),” she says.

But she foresees a drop in the orders this time round. "The tsunami will have a definite effect on sales. After all, no one is in the mood to celebrate New Year and in some areas, there isn't anyone left," she said sadly.

Irosha Iranganie, 34, of Panadura, has been making and selling sweetmeats for the past five years. Usually she makes about 3-4,000 kavums, 2,000 kokis and about 1,000 aasmi. “I started off by trying out different methods to make these various kavili and then mastered the art with time. During the season, there are usually so many orders that I have to get the help of about three others."

This year, however, Irosha feels there will be a significant drop. "Just after the tsunami, the orders for January 1 were also cancelled. We didn't have business for three whole months and things are just starting to pick up. But though I have my regular shop orders, there is a huge drop in the orders from individuals," she said.

Even large establishments like Monis Bakery and Confectioneries, are experiencing a significant drop in sales as a result of the tsunami. "With the tsunami, we are not targeting the average sales. We usually purchase about 60 kg of rice for kavum, but this year we won't plan for so many orders," says Swargika Fernando, Managing Directress of Monis. "Most of our customers are from the south, and many of them have lost relatives, homes and property. Some are living in camps. These people will not be celebrating New Year in the usual way."

"The people are still afraid of another tsunami occurring. They are scarred and always prepared to pack up and leave, so we can't really plan anything this year," says Dayaratne Fernando, Managing Director of Monis.

The famed establishment, which has been in existence for the past 107 years, employs three people to produce sweetmeats. Some of them are professional kavili makers. "I learnt the art of making these foods from my mother and have been making them from the age of 15," says T.L. Yasawathi. "I have been working with Monis for the past five years and we usually prepare kavum, kokis, aasmi and athirasa during this time of the year. But I don't think we'll be having the usual business this time."

Not in the mood
People living in the camps are still facing many hardships. Celebrating the New Year does not seem to be a priority to these tsunami-affected folk who are cramped in limited spaces and battling the sun and the rain. The mood within the camps is sometimes quite tense.

"When a large number of people from various areas are suddenly forced to live in a small space together, for a long time, it's obvious that problems will arise. They are mentally shattered. They have lost everything, have no where to go to and have no idea when their problems would be solved," says a navy officer at the camp situated in Panadura, -the first government camp to be set up. He said he believed the atmosphere was hardly conducive for any seasonal cheer. "With the problems they have, these people are in no mood to celebrate the New Year," he said. In most of the camps situated in Kalutara, Beruwala and other areas along the coast, the situation was the same.

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