News
Avurudu buyers feel budgets stretched; traders see weak retail sales
Avurudu blues: Not many are out in Pettah buying goods for the upcoming season. Pix by Athula Devapriya
Shelves are stocked but few people are buying for the Avurudu celebration. Those who are buying, are seeking bargains, traders in the Pettah and Borella say.
Many consumer goods traders complain that Avurudu sales are weak.
S. H. Mohammad, 52, from Seeduwa who owns a small textile shop in the Pettah said most customers ask about prices and turn away. “A frock we bought for Rs 220 last year is Rs 240 now. We sell it for Rs 250 keeping only a Rs 10 profit.”
P. Sylvester who owns a shop selling bags in the Pettah said his revenue was low and he could not hire a shop assistant.
He said that the cost of living has increased drastically and there is little chance people will buy items such as bags.
“This is a rented shop. The monthly rent is Rs 30,000. I have to pay water and electricity bills. But business is dull.” He said that due to the lack of sales, traders are compelled to sell low quality bags at cheap prices and competition among traders had increased significantly.
H A Siri, 52, a fruit vendor from Dematagoda, said despite the low prices, sales have dropped unexpectedly. He said that a kilo of sour plantain sells for Rs 120.
“I have ordered fewer bananas from Barawakumbura in Hambantota this time. Last year, few people bought bananas for the New Year. It will be worse this time,” he lamented. He said that even he is not capable of celebrating.
Mohammad Fasnin, 32, who owns a sweets shop in Borella, said that so far the sales are as usual as in the previous year.
He said that he would bring more Avurudu sweets in the New Year week. “We hope there will be a high demand for kevum, kokis, peni valalu, boondi as usual in the Avurudu season.’’ He said that he has made arrangements to order them from people who make them in the area.
Some traders said that they had lowered their prices.
Mohammad Fasnin
A medium scale textile shop owner in Borella said prices of women’s blouses were between Rs 475-550 and prices of shirts start from Rs 475.
K. K. V. Kandavinna, a retired family health worker from Eheliyagoda who bought some plastic items from Pettah, said that there was no significant escalation of prices. “The New Year is celebrated as usual. The preparation for the New Year in Eheliyagoda is fascinating.” She said that other items needed for the New Year can easily be bought from the New Year pola in her area at low prices.
Dhanushka Sameera, 29, from Kelaniya said prices of many commodities are a bit higher than in the past year. He said that he had not yet bought new clothes but hoped to buy within the next few days. “The tradition of exchanging gifts is continued as usual although the expenses are higher than last year,” he said.
Romia Fernando from Wattala who was carrying two bags full of items in Pettah said she would shop during the New Year season. Being a Christian she doesn’t celebrate the New Year but will celebrate Easter on April 16 and enjoys shopping, she said. “The prices are lower than usual, especially textiles. There is a wide variety of products. Some that cost Rs 1,250 can be bought for Rs 1,000 during this period.”
Jayanthi Perera, a retired teacher from Ethul Kotte, said she was preparing for the New Year as usual and would buy new clothes after she gets her pension. “I used to make kevum, kokis, aluwa at home in the past but this time I’m buying them.” She added that it has become difficult to prepare sweets at home.
R. Jayamini from Colombo complained that prices of textiles have increased drastically compared with last year. She said prices of vegetables are low only in supermarkets and not in street markets. “Fruits are very expensive. The price of fish is not that high, but fluctuates daily,” she said.
Jayanthi Perera
Romia Fernando
S. H. Mohammad
P. SylvesterK. K. V. Kandavinna
R. Jayamini
H. A. Siri
Dhanushka Sameera