Even New Year firecrackers might not warm dampened vendor spirits

Avurudu shopping: A game of bargaining while shopping for essentials

Anura

Shanthi

Clay pots and firecrackers sold for Rs. 100

Deserted streets in Pamunuwa

Tissa

A deserted Malwatta Road

Gamini

• Sparse customers are greeted by deserted streets and disappointed vendors 
• Price hike of raw items are forcing venders to increase prices of sweetmeats
• Clothes shops selling sarongs have left cloth venders stare into oblivion

It is that time of the year when people don’t think twice about shopping, spending for themselves and their loved ones in order to usher in the New Year on a memorable note. But this time around, people actually seem to be thinking twice before spending on clothes, sweetmeats and other items as shopping has become expensive. 
The Daily Mirror visited Pettah and Pamunuwa, two destinations frequented by customers during the Avurudu season to observe the hype. This writer was greeted by deserted streets and vendors who were disappointed over their sales records. They (vendors) blame extreme heat 
Here’s what some of the vendors had to say:
“I’ll have to increase prices of sweetmeats this season” - Jayaweera
An Avurudu table won’t be complete without traditional sweetmeats. These sweetmeats from kevum, kokis to aasmi and other varieties are essentials on every Avurudu table in addition to main meals such as milk rice. 
But according to Neeta Jayaweera, proprietor of Nadee Sweetmeats in Thalawathugoda, the price of kevum and kokis would be higher during this Avurudu season. “The price of gas and other raw items such as cooking oil and flour has been increased, so I’ll have to increase prices of sweetmeats this season,” she said. 
Jayaweera said that so far she hadn’t received any orders, but people usually purchase items a day or two prior to the dawn of the New Year. “I’m anticipating better sales despite price variations because some people celebrate Avurudu on a grand scale. It is that time of the year when families get together, so they want to enjoy the moment. I’m keeping my fingers crossed about sales this year,” she added. 
“Fruits are not fast-moving items anymore” - Karunaratne
Anura Karunaratne, a fruit vendor at Main Street, Pettah observes a reduction in sales this Avurudu season due to the heat and high cost of living. “Back when I started in 1976, the price of a mango was around 35 cents. People had money back then and they would buy in bulk. Today a kilo of mango is around Rs. 200. My business has been running at a loss because it is difficult to cover the costs,” he told Daily Mirror.

Karunaratne purchases mangoes from the Peliyagoda market and it costs him around Rs. 100,000. But he says that it is difficult to earn at least Rs. 80,000 from sales because fruits are not fast moving items anymore. 
“Some mangoes become too ripe in a day or two and most of it goes to waste. People don’t have enough money to purchase fruits, but I have no other option as this has been my source of income right throughout,” he further said. 
“Purchasing new clothes has become an afterthought” – Arunasiri
With ongoing constructions at the Pettah bus stand, vendors like Gamini Arunasiri have moved towards Main Street aiming for better sales. Arunasiri is a cloth vendor, mainly selling men’s sarongs. Even though many are used to wearing a sarong as a traditional Avurudu attire, Arunasiri is not happy with sales. By the time we met him it was around mid-day, but he had only been able to sell around three sarongs. 
“A sarong is Rs. 1000 when I purchase them from shops in and around Pettah,” he told the Daily Mirror. He said that he too needs to have a small profit, but sales haven’t been satisfactory to even cover the costs. 
He admits the fact that purchasing new clothes has almost become an afterthought for people due to the rising cost of living. “I hope that sales would pick-up during the upcoming weekend. But that is only a hope,” he said with a smile. 
“People try to bargain for a minimum price” – Kumara
We then travelled towards Malwatte Road, popular for shoes, bags and other items. But the streets were deserted. 
“These streets used to be packed with people some 5-6 years ago, but now there’s hardly anyone except for vendors,” said Tissa Kumara, a shoe vendor. He said that so far he had only been able to sell around three pairs of shoes during the morning hours. 
“Last year we had much better sales. This time we don’t see a way of earning 10% of what we earned last year. There were days when we used to sell 20-30 pairs of shoes. People try to bargain as much possible, so the minimum price of a pair of shoes is Rs. 2000. For some customers that too is expensive. There used to be many vendors here, but many of them have taken to other businesses because the shoes business isn’t profitable anymore,” he added. 
“Hardly any profits left this season” - Perera
From Pettah we then travelled towards Pamunuwa, Maharagama which is another area that becomes a hive of activity during Avurudu season. But the situation was similar to that of Pettah. 
“We had good sales even when the civil war was in progress in the North and even during COVID,” said Shanthi Perera, a cloth vendor from Pamunuwa. “But as of late, sales are so poor. Except for certain custom orders, there’s hardly anyone coming to purchase clothes,” she complained. 
She said that during the usual peak season, one end of Polwatta road would be closed to contain the crowds. “But this time it is so deserted that you can play a cricket match on the road,” she said on a sarcastic note. 
Perera purchases cloth pieces from garment factories and has to pay outright. “Despite not having sales I have more expenses than what I earn. I have to transport the cloth pieces in a three-wheeler. So when the transport and other costs are covered there’s hardly any profit, especially this season,” she added. 
“Clay pots and firecrackers are purchased at the last minute” – Sandaruwan 
It is customary for people to boil milk at the dawn of the New Year. According to Nipuna Sandaruwan from Minuwangoda, people come to purchase clay pots and even firecrackers during the last minute. “The starting price of a clay pot is Rs. 100. Then we have the clay pot and hearth to boil milk. It comes in with a metal base priced at Rs. 2000. A set of firecrackers is Rs. 100 and there are different varieties. But people purchase firecrackers only if children insists,” he said while adding that he anticipates better sales over the upcoming weekend.