News
O Christmas tree, what has befallen thee?
View(s):- A blue Christmas and huge losses for dealers
By Yoshitha Perera
Due to the prevailing financial issues faced by consumers, there is a significant decline in the demand for natural Christmas trees, vendors said.
Natural Christmas tree vendors have established their sales outlets at Thimbrigasyaya in Colombo and this time only a few vendors were seen.
Central highland vendors travel to Colombo to sell their natural Christmas trees every year. This year there were only five upcountry traders, but they could not sell even half of their natural trees, they said.
R.M. Wijesinghe
“Even though it is Christmas Eve, few people showed up to buy natural Christmas trees. People still came out to buy trees last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and the number we brought in last year was not enough to satisfy the demand. This time, there has been a significant reduction,” Bandarawela vendor R.M. Wijesinghe said.
With the increase in fuel prices, these vendors had spent more than Rs. 70,000 on transportation to bring the trees to Colombo.
“Last year, we paid only Rs. 23,000 on transportation and there were more vendors. This year there was no profit from selling these trees,” Mr Wijesinghe said.
Mr. Wijesinghe had brought more than 250 natural trees this year, but only 20 had been sold. Additionally, tree prices had gone up. Last year the price was around Rs. 3000. This year, dealers had to charge around Rs. 7,000 for a tree.
More than 200 natural Christmas tree dealers, and more 7,000 of their dependents, including family members, and tree suppliers, were now experiencing severe financial troubles as a result of the crippling of their annual business operations, Mr. Wijesinghe claimed.
Oval-shaped, green and fresh Christmas trees had to be carefully transported from Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Diyatalawa, and Talawakele to Colombo.
People believe these trees represent the Christmas spirit and bring joy. Natural Christmas trees also had a pleasant aroma. These trees are harvested from mature cypress trees which grow on the bare ground or in tea plantations for more than three years.
- Only a few vendors were seen selling natural trees. Pix by Akila Jayawardene
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