‘People forgot Christmas because of politics’: Pettah traders’ lament
The political turmoil might be ending but business is still slow for Christmas. Traders complain that the public’s Christmas spirit has been dampened by the seven-week political crisis.
“If you came to speak to me last year around this time, I would not be talking to you since I would be busy selling Christmas decorations. This year there are hardly any customers buying Christmas ornaments,” Gunasiri Gamage, 58, a trader at Pettah market said.
He accused politicians of being directly responsible for the decline in business as the crisis had made customers nervous about coming to the streets fearing violent situations would arise.
“Christmas has been overshadowed by the crisis. People are more concerned about the fate of the country than about celebrating the festival. The three groups of politicians don’t care while they wrestle for power,” he said.
He explained that with no Budget or functioning cabinet, traders did not receive any of the usual concessions for festival business. Mr Gamage had to pay more to buy imported Christmas decorations due to the depreciation of the rupee, but was unable to sell items at higher prices to cover the cost.
Pettah main street was calm this week compared to last year; the streets, normally jam- packed with crowds, had fewer people.
Traders, usually busy at their tills, were just seated near their stalls, waiting for customers. They said customers come in to inspect the clothes, shoes and schoolbags on offer but are hesitant to buy.
Vendor Batatuge Nimal said the many footwear sellers at the market were competing with each other over quality and range of goods, but the few customers prepared to buy at this time were simply going to the trader with the lowest price.
“During the previous festive seasons we earned Rs50,000 a day and sold most of our stock, but now we hardly manage to sell Rs20,000 worth of shoes – close to the amount we sell in the off-season,” he said.
“People forgot Christmas because of politics,” Mr Nimal said. He noted gratefully that customers had increased after the Supreme Court ruled that the President’s dissolution of parliament was unlawful and steps began to be taken to resolve the political crisis. “There are a few days left before Christmas and the New Year so I hope that people turn up in the next few days,” he said on Thursday.
Jagath Kumara, 47, a teacher at a dhamma school, is one of those people who are now venturing out into the streets. He was at the markets to buy medals and cups for the school prize-giving.
“I did not travel much because of the crisis, but now everything seems to be getting back to normal,” he said.
The Pettah crossroads and byroads, generally filled with people hurrying to buy goods, just had a few people moving slowly from shop to shop.
“Very few people are buying toys for their children,” says Mohammad Muaadh. “In contrast to last year, sales are very low,” he added. “Last year, my stall was surrounded with people: Now there is an occasional customer or two.”
The hundreds of toys he had brought from wholesalers were not selling.
Sakkavi Sahib, 40, sells Christmas trees. An artificial 5- foot tree goes for Rs1,000 and a 9- foot tree for Rs10,000. Last year, Mr Sahib said he had sold 600- 700 trees, but he doubted this year would be as profitable, especially as, he claimed, traders who normally sold other goods had switched to selling trees. “I sell Christmas trees from November 25 till December 25, and afterwards plan to sell socks for schoolchildren,” Mr Sahib said.
Mohammed Asmi said he was selling so few Christmas decorations that he could not afford to buy his four children presents this year. “I have to buy them textbooks and clothes, but I haven’t made enough money to buy them anything,” he said. “I have to pay Rs5,000 in rent for my stall.” He has gone into debt to buy stock from importers because his costs were higher with the depreciation of the rupee.
One customer at least was pleased with the situation. Seventeen- year- old Tharusha Thathsarani, from Matara, was shopping with her family. “The crowds are smaller this year,” she said. “We thought it would be very difficult to move in these busy streets as the shops would be crowded.”