News
Pamunuwa: Where people come, see the prices and leave
View(s):While traders lament that the high prices of garments are keeping shoppers away this season at this popular market in Maharagama, it’s a sweet tale for sellers of bottles of treacle
By Sandun Jayawardana
For several decades, the market has been a popular destination for shoppers looking for bargains especially in clothes come Avurudu season. The market though, has also been hit by the effects of the country’s economic crisis, with the public no longer able to afford to purchase as much as they used to.
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- Ajith Dissanayake: Customers even purchase bottles of kithul treacle even at Rs. 2000
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- While the price of some goods and foodstuff has reduced when compared to last year, others have got far more expensive
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- Nirosha Irangani
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- Shoppers checking the prices
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- Pamunuwa: Usually a bustling market during this time of the year. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
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- Shirantha Namal
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- Yamuna Priyadarshani: Last year was comparatively better
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- Kelum: Far less crowd this time
“Usually, you can hardly walk around here by this time. The crowd is that thick, but as you can see, there are far less people and many among them also ask about prices and leave,” says Kelum (36) who works in one of the many small stalls selling readymade garments.
The high price of garments is the main reason for the lack of customers, he opined. Many items have gone up in price compared to last year. “This used to be Rs. 1000 last year but it’s around Rs. 1700-1800 now. That’s the case with most items,” Kelum says, pointing to a pair of denim shorts.
A resident of Matara, Kelum admitted he was worried how this year’s Avurudu will turn out for him and his family.
“Last year was comparatively better. This year, people mostly ask about prices and leave without buying anything,” lamented Yamuna Priyadarshani (53), who has been selling clothes in Pamunuwa for 30 years. She acknowledged prices are higher than last year. This is due to everything from the price of textile material to needle and thread going up. Traders cannot reduce prices either because they are already running losses, Ms Priyadarshani added.
It has been yet another disappointing year for W.R.D. Latha (68) from Arawwala. She has been selling bags in Pamunuwa for 19 years. “Business has been bad since the time COVID hit,” she revealed. She used to run a wholesale business selling bags to other traders but said they can no longer afford it. “People spend what little money they have to buy some items for their children, but don’t buy for themselves. Even people who are relatively well off don’t buy much now.”
Yet even those selling children’s clothes and baby products say business is not what it used to be. “Mothers come and look, but most often don’t buy. They don’t have enough money,” said Nirosha Irangani (35) who sells children’s items. She doesn’t except business to improve much even if there is a last minute rush next week. For shoppers, it is a case of adapting to their diminished purchasing power amid the economic crisis. Shirantha Namal Silva (44) and his wife were shopping for clothes for their children. A carpenter from Panadura, his profession has been hit hard by the economic crisis and he can no longer afford to buy clothes from the shops in his hometown. “Yes, there is an issue with regard to the quality of some of the items available here, but we are not in a position to be picky,” he said. While the price of some goods and foodstuff has reduced when compared to last year, others have got far more expensive as Sri Lankans get ready to celebrate another National New Year amid economic difficulties.
All types of rice have gone up in price compared to this time last year, stats from the Department of Census and Statistics show. A kilo of sugar, essential for making most sweetmeats during Avurudu, was Rs. 172 this time last year.
It has gone up to Rs. 220 this year. Wheat flour has increased from Rs. 171 a kilo last year to Rs. 226 this year. Green gram used to be Rs. 732 a kilo last year but the price has skyrocketed to Rs. 1570 now. A kilo of chicken was about Rs. 866 last year but is now Rs. 1295. Coconut oil, which used to be Rs. 572 last year, has however, dropped to Rs. 550 this year.
While people may be facing economic difficulties, they are still keen to ensure that their Avurudu table has enough sweetmeats, said Ajith Dissanayake (50), a trader selling kithul and coconut treacle. His bottles of kithul treacle range from Rs. 1200 to Rs. 2000 while bottles of coconut treacle range from Rs. 600 to Rs. 900. He purchases treacle from Akuressa, Chilaw and Kithulgala to sell at his shop. “Business hasn’t been bad. Customers even purchase Rs. 2000 kithul treacle bottles which are the best quality,” he said.
Avurudu only comes once a year after all, and people will still do all they can to lay a plentiful Avurudu table, Mr Dissanayake said.
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