Business blues

N Koddituwakku, 58, cashier

A cashier at a restaurant near the Nugegoda flyover, N Kodituwakku said they were seeing fewer customers eating in because of the power cuts. “Most customers take away food during power cuts because they cannot eat leisurely in our restaurant as the air conditioners are not working,” she said. The staff also found it difficult to work in the heat. The restaurant had to throw away cooked meals in the evenings as they were prone to spoil. “The cool drinks are no longer cool and ice creams have turned to liquid,” she said. “Most of the milk packets have gone bad.”

Saman Dissanayake, 47, small time printing press owner

His Nawala Road printing press was off for over three hours a day now. “Why can’t the government at least provide power during the week prior to Sinhala and Tamil New Year?” he asked. “This is the time we get work to print banners, notices, cards and calendars for New Year.” He travelled to Colombo to get work done for clients as he had to meet deadlines. Loss of business has made it difficult for him to pay New Year salary advances to the five employees at the press.

KAIR Per era ,39, owner of a small grocery

Mr Perera said the ice creams and other refreshments were going bad. “Even when customers want ice cream during power cuts, I am hesitant to open the fridge as the cool air escapes,” the Nawala road entrepreneur said. He closed his shop early because of the 6.30-7.30pm power cut. When he gets home to Battaramulla, he faces the 7.30-8.30pm interruption. He cannot afford a generator.