Running on empty … traders and families in same plight this Christmas
Spending the most wonderful time of the year amidst a pandemic has been challenging for many this year, from fisherman to traders, housewives and to the elderly.
Sulking traders were seen in cities and suburbs, all complaining about how the virus has made them suffer throughout the year, with businesses severely affected.
“My only hope was Christmas, but I don’t think I will earn even 50 per cent of what I earned during previous years,” said L.L.B. Victor, 52, from Kochchikade, who has been selling Christmas decorations on Main Street,
Colombo for the past 30 years.
He said with COVID-19 reaching the heart of Colombo, people still fear to come to purchase items from Pettah.
Christmas for fishermen this year is a real struggle, especially the Peliyagoda COVID cluster resulting in the main fish market closure, fear of buying fish amid gossip that seafood carried the virus, and cyclonic storms and rains, said Dinesh Suranjan Fernando, Secretary of the AllCeylon Fisher Folk Trade Union.
“Most of the fishing community along the Negombo coastline had to endure so much hardship. Last year, we were mourning the loss of our loved ones [ in the Easter Sunday church bombings] and this year we lost our income. The government should step in and promote fish consumption and support small- scale fishermen,” Mr. Fernando said.
S. Sothinathan, 65, owner of a textile complex in Pettah, said most shops are running on bank
loans to pay salaries.
“I have been in the textile business for the last 20 years. Due to the Easter Sunday attack, we lost business last festive season, and
this year COVID has put our businesses further down with sales dropping by about 80 per cent,” he lamented.
The President of the Housewives Association, Deanna Rizvi, said women in households were the worst affected this Christmas.
“Most housewives have to undergo financial difficulties
with their husbands losing jobs and businesses severely affected by the pandemic. Despite the pressure, they have to make sure their children get to enjoy Christmas,” she said.
She said this will be a hard time for the elderly, who will miss having get- togethers with their grandchildren.
“If there are elderly persons and those with underlying health conditions in the house, other family members cannot go out festive shopping like previous years,” she said.
E. Ariyadasa, 65, a grocery shop owner from Makola said he used to give customers a chance to buy items for the festive season on credit.
“I used to give a hand to daily wage earners to celebrate New Year. But the pandemic has hit small-scale shop owners like us,” he said.
Health and police officials have been deployed to ensure quarantine laws are obeyed by shoppers.
Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana asks everyone to carry a business card or carry a note with personal details written down, especially if travelling on public transport or going out shopping.
“If a person travelled in a bus with a COVID- positive person, all other passengers will have to self-isolate. Therefore it is necessary to provide your details when requested by health officials,” he said.