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| Sunday, 12 December 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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In Yuletide stride..... by Lakmal Welabada and Chanuka Mannapperuma
Christmas is just around the corner and festive euphoria is everywhere. People are making preparations for the festive season and everyone is busy shopping. The malls have gone into high gear to generate that special festive feeling. Christmas trees, silver bells and reindeer....... the sounds of Christmas carols in the air add to the festive spirit, as do the hoards of shoppers. Filda Quis Air hostess Kuwait Airlines, say "When we compare with other countries Sri Lankans are kind hearted. I came to Sri Lanka for Christmas shopping. I do shop at ODEL. Things are of good quality and so is the food." Manjula de Silva another shopper says: "When we compare with other countries, shopping in Sri Lanka is very convenient. We can buy whatever we want now in Sri Lanka. The quality is good and the cost is low."
According to a sales girl at ODEL , this season has been good when compared with other years, with many customers from abroad. Subha, a Bishopian who along with two of her friends are shopping for a memento of thanks for their class teacher says they are not in the festive mood as they are preparing for the forthcoming O/L exam. "But, of course we will be having a gala time just after our exams are over. We hope to go on a shopping spree very soon," she laughs Ramani from Kandana is another shopper, looking for gift items for friends and family. "As we celebrate Christmas, I thought of doing the shopping part early as there would be a big rush at the last moment. Once I finish this, I can concentrate on preparing Christmas cakes, wines and other food stuff leisurely. Though there are many attractive things in the shops we should be able to cut our cloak according to the cloth. We have to make ends meet with the year end bonus that my husband gets. I do like to celebrate the season but at the same time I do not believe in wasting money unnecessarily. We have children and parents to look after, so we have to think of saving a little for the future as well," she says.
Jenniffer from Nugegoda looking for toys for the Christmas party which her organisation is going to present to a Children's Orphanage says, "Things are very expensive. But it's a pleasure to buy them for the little ones. Each time when I reach out for a toy or a child's suit I imagine how each one's face would blossom up with happiness when we present it to them," she smiles. Many businesses are also trying their best to make a little money during the season by introducing extremely handy gift draws for their customers. 'Exclusive Lines' offers a seven day fabulous cruise for two in the Caribbean sea for the lucky customers who buy cosmetics worth over Rs. 7,500 from any of their outlets from December 1 to January 15. Hameedias is also offering handsome prizes for their customers who buy handy clothes and other stuff worth over Rs. 5,000. Many supermarkets are also having attractive draws for their shoppers. Almost all the shopping spots in Colombo have been decorated to attract Christmas and New Year shoppers. The Sunday Observer talked to a few individual interior and exterior decorators and a seamstress cater seasonal customers. Samanthi Thanabe had done beautiful festive decor for the Colombo Hilton Residencies (JAIC Hilton), Crescat Residencies and Mobitel Head office and showrooms. "We used red and green and natural items like 'Kohu' (coir) for the decorations at JAIC Hilton with Mini cards, gift packs, candles and mini carts as table decor," she says that she had made painted wreaths out of 'Kohu' with artificial poinsettias, hollies and leaves for Mobitel she had coir items also coloured in blue and green (their own business colours) and silver dust for their showrooms. Mithila Marambe in charge of the seasonal decorations for many hotels in Colombo as well as the outstation says, "I do not use polythene or any other artificial items for my decor. All I use are natural and dried organism, earthy colours like copper, gold and browns for the Galle Face Hotel, twigs painted in black, white and silver for, Blue Waters Hotel, Wadduwa and a snowy effect for Hayleys Group. So I placed snowmen, polar bears, penguins with full of white and silver to decorate their showrooms," she says adding decorative balls in red, green and gold colours were used for the decor at Villa Ocean, Wadduwa." Charmanie Hemachandra who also does interior decor says she is concentrating on dress making this year. "We have got many orders for party dresses and saree jackets. Most of them are from middle age women. Slim fitting straight and simple dresses in Chiffon and Satin clothes are in demand," she says. Charmanie further says that black stays unchanged as it is a safe colour in any kind of change in fashion. "Also lot of them prefer to wear an embroidered shawl with their simple black dress as it gives colour and glamour for the occasion. Fancy and chunky jewellery made of metal and beads, and high heeled strappy shoes seem to be in fashion at present for both the mid aged and youngsters. Simple hairstyles with gold and bronze make up would enhance their attractiveness," says Charmanie. She also says that sarees with the colour combination of bright and brilliant oranges and shocking pinks are in fashion. "Both sarees and jackets are heavily worked in beads and sequins and look really elaborative. Prices of these sarees are in the range of Rs. 4000 to Rs. 20,000," she says. "Teenagers and young girls prefer to go for very simple dresses in black, white or grey with tiny shoulder straps and uneven hems," explains Charmanie. On the whole, with the cost of living increasing many say, they have to cut down the cost on decor and dresses. But set of celebrators say they have no regrets spending lavishly. Everything depends on the individual budgets. Whatever the inclination, Colombo can be expected to be in glamour and festive mood once again celebrating another elegant and elaborate Christmas and New Year. |
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