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| Sunday, 25 December 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Christmas sans sharing
by Vimukthi Fernando
Today, the number had declined, but, just a little - for Colombo's busy life goes on undeterred by the rains. It is very cold out there on the pavement. She seemed to have fallen asleep. We are undecided whether to talk to her. "Amme," says a pavement seller standing close by, and Somawathie wakes up from her slumber. Red eyed, with dishelved hair and unkempt dress, hers is a tale of woe. Old and discarded, with none except an unemployed son to take care of her, she lives on the streets of Colombo. We chat, about the weather, about her life on the streets and the Christmas shoppers. Many feet stop by, to quench their curiosity. A few seconds to eavesdrop and they hurry away on their usual business. "See, what I told you. No one wants to give a penny to old souls like us. I wonder whether I could find enough money to get a hot meal for lunch," laments Somawathie. Elsewhere, business goes on as usual. "Wow!" Exclaims Dinali De Silva, looking at the Christmas decorations at Odel's at Town Hall. She is there, "just for the fun of shopping during the holiday season, which gives me a boost. And I make this an opportunity to get-together with my girl friends," says Dinali.
The mood of festivity seems to be similar at Majestic City where people throng for seasonal shopping. A sweep ticket seller cum beggar on a wheel chair, with an open umbrella tied to the chair - a familiar site in front of the shopping mall, is missing. Perhaps, it is the rain which had taken him away. But, the rain had not deterred shoppers on their quest to acquire goods to sustain them through the holiday season. Opening their hearts as well as their purses, some of the shoppers helped her generously during the season, says Sriyani, holding the hand of her son of about four years. Though not begging at the site usually, it is the festive season that brought them there, "because shoppers have money and they are willing to give us a few coins," she adds. Kanthi Senarathne, from Aluthgama holds the same viewpoint. She had started begging on the streets "only a few months ago, after my husband had to undergo two operations," says Kanthi. Her husband a casual labourer had fallen off a tree and had to undergo treatment at the Nagoda Teaching Hospital for over three months. The family had lost all their savings due to his sickness and as her husband cannot engage in work due to weak health, Kanthi had opted to become the breadwinner of the family. Her husband had agreed to take care of their three and a half year old child. "It was hard to find manual labour with an infant at my side. I do not have much education either. So, this was the only option I was left with in the end," she says. There are many kind hearted people in Colombo she says, adding that she earns about Rs. 750/= on a good day. "Sometimes, I get milk-powder for my son, food and clothing as well." But, the Christmas season? "There is no difference. And I will stay home during the Christmas day and the day after, because the offices are closed and Colombo will be deserted." "There is no point, because nobody comes to Colombo to hand out charity for beggars like us," says Wijesinghe, a 57 year old mason turned beggar due to the loss of a limb. Having spent the night on a Colombo pavement, he says he has no money to purchase even one warm meal a day. But nonchalance seems to be his slogan for life. Suffering from diabetes, his aim in life seems to be to find enough money to finance his medical check ups, his monthly visit to the medical clinic at the general hospital and a few days' stay at the hospital if needed. So, how will this Christmas be for Wijesinghe? "There will be no change from other days. It will just be an ordinary day. Only more lonely, without a soul on the roads of Colombo. Christmas lies in people's hearts. When the whole world is at war, with greedy people having all the comforts and trying to grab from others the little they have, what Christmas for us?," he questions.
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She sits. Hunched, in a corner, trying to escape from the gale. It is a
busy pavement. At any given moment during working hours, a few dozen pairs
of legs pass her by. 
She plans to visit all the shopping malls during the season. I have a
whole week off from my duties in office. And, I plan to keep my budget down
to Rs. 25,000 this season," says the young executive enjoying her holidays.
A kind thought towards marginalised people does not even seem to cross her
mind as she gets into a three-wheeler to take her purchases home to
Rajagiriya. 
