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Festive time is spending time, but with restraint
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Whether it was for fabrics and garments (above) or grocery shopping (below) for the New Year, there were mixed reactions from shoppers and vendors alike. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
By Kasun Warakapitiya
Preparations for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations continued despite financial hardships in most households.
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- A.Y. Abeywardena
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- W.G Malanai
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- Edwin Amarasinghe
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- Kanapathi Raja
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- Iranthika Sandamali
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- Whether it was for fabrics and garments (above) or grocery shopping (below) for the New Year, there were mixed reactions from shoppers and vendors alike. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Some goods vendors said sales were lean, while others were satisfied. But, unlike in previous years, as many workers in Colombo had started leaving the city by Wednesday.
“By Wednesday, the city was becoming deserted, affecting sales,’’ Kanapathi Raja, an employee of a clothing shop at Nugegoda, said. He had noticed sales were low and would not even bother to ask for a bonus.
Mr Kanapathi said people are not spending freely.
Cloth and clothing material shop owner Edwin Amarasinghe told the Sunday Times that sales had drastically dropped from the previous year.
He said that he took many loans to purchase clothing material aiming to sell before Wednesday, “yet most of them remain unsold’’.
He said that he has to pay a bonus to nine employees and settle loans. According to him, streets of Nugegoda which used to be crowded before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year are desolated now.
At well known clothing shops, most customers seem to be checking prices and if not, bought a limited number of items.
Some said they buy clothing and other items, but limit their spending.
A.Y. Abeywardena, a shopper, told the Sunday Times that people somehow try to purchase goods, and even would spend their savings.
Resident of Galle, K. Ratnayake said that she arrived in Colombo for shopping this week, expecting crowded shops.
“Most Colombo residents have gone to their hometowns, so there are no crowds in shops, but the prices of goods is high. Even if I managed to find nice clothing, I can’t afford it,” she said.
Sweets sellers said costs have risen.
Iranthika Sandamali, a sweet meat seller, who makes Kavum, Mung Kavum to order, said prices of ingredients have increased every year. The price of coconut oil, kithul honey are high, so she raised prices by Rs 5.
“A Konda Kavum made with kithul honey sells for Rs 90. My kavum is expensive. I do not use sugar,’’ she said.
Ms Sandamali said that during the New Year season, the price of sugar, flour and other ingredients increase, but she does not charge customers more.
Sellers of firecrackers have set up on the sides of streets, but most said sales were low.
W.G Malanai, 59, said she waited until April 9 as there were fewer people on the streets and sales were slim.
“My son took out a big loan to buy fireworks, the prices of each item increased so we could not purchase like the last time. We are hopeful of sales in the coming days, or else we would be unable to pay the loan,’’ she said.
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