Even Royalty stopped at Kadjugama in days gone by

By Ananda Kannangara

A. Sumanasiri

The Sunday Observer last week had the opportunity to meet cashew sellers at Kadjugama in Bataleeya. This picturesque village famous for the cashew industry for the past several decades is located 48 kms away from the city of Colombo.

Seventy-three-year-old J.P. Gnanawathi, the oldest cashew seller at Bataleeya said the Government’s intervention is needed to expand this traditional business.

Kadjugama is not only famous among locals, but also with foreigners who come to Sri Lanka from countries like England, America, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, Pakistan and India.

Gnanawathi said cashew sellers at Kadjugama have good business only during week-ends and poya holidays.

She said their daily income depends on the arrival of visitors. Some days they earn as little as Rs. 250. Sometimes it increases up to Rs. 1,000.

A Pakistani tourist enjoys cashew nuts

Devi Shiromi at her stall.

A smiling cashew seller poses for a picture A cashew seller waves to stop a vehicle

She said that, although it is the duty of the Government and everyone in the country to protect this business, some local tour guides who travel with large tour groups do not stop vehicles at Kadjugama.

“Actually, it is their duty to stop at Kadjugama even for a few minutes and help the poor sellers.

A cashew seller, 45-year-old A.D. Thilakasiri said he remembers the days when former President Ranasinghe Premadasa ordered every tourist vehicle and CTB bus to stop at Kadjugama.

“I hope President Mahinda Rajapaksa who gives priority to protect village level traditional industries will look into this matter and find us a solution” he said.

Thirty-year-old Asiri Morawaka said if the Government makes a plea to local tour guides, the CTB and private bus operators to stop at Kadjugama on their way to and back from Kandy it will be a boon to them.

“I appeal to Minister Basil Rajapaksa who is keen to promote tourism in the country to look into the matter personally and direct all tour guides to stop their vehicles at Kadjugama even for a few minutes.

Member of the Meerigama Pradeshiya Saba, A. Sumanasiri thanked Minister Basil Rajapaksa for the encouragement extended to cashew sellers at Kadjugama.

He said the Minister very often visited Kadjugama to look into their grievances. During his last visit, he distributed large coloured umbrellas to be used as shelters in stalls.

Sumanasiri said the Minister promised to take immediate steps to uplift the cashew industry in the village and also the living conditions of over 250 families who depend on it.

He said over 200 cadjan roofed huts are erected on either side of the main Colombo-Kandy Road at Bataleeya.

Many traders at Kadjugama still face financial hardships, he said.

He proposed that bank loans be provided to these traders on low interest rates, so that they will be able to expand their businesses.

Cashew is brought to Bataleeya from places such as Ampara, Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Chilaw, Puttalam, Kotugoda, Madagamuwa and Matalegama in the Gampaha District and they are sold at low prices to customers during the season, between March and April every year.

During the season, cashew is purchased in bulk and sold to customers and small scale cashew sellers in Kadjugama at high prices in the off season.

If a loan scheme is introduced through the area Sanasa Bank or through the Cashew Corporation, it will be very helpful for small scale sellers to purchase large quantities of cashew during the season.

Pradeshiya Saba Member Samanasiri also proposed that the Government construct a tourist village at Kadjugama with a playground, a health care centre and a community centre for the benefit of the 250 families at Bataleeya.

He said the only community centre which was used by people at Kadjugama during the 1960s was later acquired by the Cultural Affairs Ministry.

Another cashew seller and a mother of two children, 28-year-old, Devi Shiromi also wants the authorities to grant financial loans on low interest to strengthen their business activities.

She complained that visitors, arrival was very poor and the daily income not sufficient even to meet family expenses.

She said large numbers of persons visit the Northern District days and almost all these buses ply passing the Kadjugama stalls.

Pix: Vipula Amarasinghe