Doom and gloom foreshadow avurudu
Lengthy power cuts, fuel shortages and street protests have dampened the Sinhala and Tamil New Year atmosphere as lesser people engaged in shopping while the youth and the elderly were taking part in protests.
People expressed distaste over the current situation as most were forced to wait in queues. People have had to focus on securing day-to-day necessities rather than engaging in celebrations. Most families have cut down on their celebrations as they found it difficult to afford the expenses.
Daily wage earners such as masons, labourers are hit hard as their earnings are not enough to sustain their families.
T G Anil Kumara, a 52-year-old mason from Iriyawatiya, said he decided not to buy new clothes for his wife and toys for his children after he took a stroll around Kiribathgoda. “Every item is expensive, the daily expenses have increased, apart from that we have to spend more money on candles as there is no power. In such a situation I have no capability to celebrate,” he said.
Even middle-income earners said they too have curtailed shopping and gifting.
Disna Dissanayake (30) who came to Kribathgoda to buy clothes for her family said that prices had increased over 100 percent. She explained that this year she only bought clothes for her immediate family members. “Clothes are expensive, therefore I only bought for my husband, daughter and myself,” she said.
Some people have altogether given up on engaging in New Year shopping and expressed their distaste for celebrations during a crisis.
Thrisan Madusanaka said that he is fed up with the country as the cost of living had skyrocketed. He also
pointed out the lengthy power cuts and fuel shortages had limited the capacity for people to enjoy themselves.
“We have decided not to engage in shopping this year. However, we plan to visit our relatives for the new year, yet there will not be any extravagant spending as everything has become expensive,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Thursday and Friday long queues formed in front of fuel stations at Colombo, Kandy, Kiribathgoda and suburban areas. Vehicles were parked in long lines, and eateries and shops alongside fuel stations were closed as the entrances were blocked by the vehicles.
Street vendors complained that there were fewer people turning up to the streets and engaging in shopping. They said they witnessed more people turning up at the protests against the government.
Confectionary and sweet vendors, too, said that their sales have dropped as people are buying less.
Suresh Shantha Saputhanathri (45) who sells confectionery items, said that he is barely managing to run his business as he has spent thousands of rupees on a generator. “All the imported chocolates, cheese, biscuits and chips and ice cream melted during power cuts, and we were forced to set up a generator. The generator consumes Rs 1,000 worth petrol every hour, therefore I have to spend Rs 13,000 during a 13-hour power cut,” he said.
He said that this year’s New Year sales were the worst he's seen, as fewer customers turned up to buy sweets from him.
Businessmen said they were affected as people were spending less as they were uncertain what would happen next.
The economic issues, hardships faced by the general public, and shortage of electricity have prevented people from enjoying the festive season. This has greatly impacted businesses which target large sales during this usually festive season. Even though discounts are placed on items, the costs of the items have increased as a result of supply chain disruptions or shortages due to delays of imports.
Businessmen urge people to set aside politics and unite to improve the economic situation. They point out that unless the current crisis is resolved there would be much more problems ahead.
Managing Director of Lady J, Anuruddha Wijerathne, told the Sunday Times that curfews imposed, strike action by State institutes have negatively impacted the business community. He said that as curfew was imposed from Saturday evening onwards, the New Year business dropped drastically as shopping ceased. He explained that even tourism which had slightly started to recover was once again affected, as an uncertainty has been created within the country.
Mr Wijeratne said that people, politicians, bureaucrats, state employees, businessmen and everyone should work together rather than blaming each other. He pointed out that delay in finding solutions could worsen the situation.