Greeting card imports, a blow to manufacturers

By Ananda KANNANGARA

Sri Lankans used greeting cards to wish their loved once since the 16th century. King Megha’s son who lived in Anuradhapura for over 24 years before King Dutugemunu had sent a greeting card to a village damsel who had been in love with him. The greeting written on an ola leaf was sent through a tamed swan.

During the colonial era people sent greetings to their loved once, but the massage was not written on ola leaves. They were written on papers. During the latter part of the 20th century printed greeting cards were circulating among people.

The printers introduced them colourful cards. Today it is hard to find plain cards. Greeting cards mostly circulate in Sri Lanka during festive seasons such as Vesak, New Year, Christmas, Thaipongal and Ramazan. Greeting cards are also used to send massages for birthdays and similar occasions.

A large number of cards circulate during Vesak and Christmas seasons than other festivals. A recent newspaper article revealed that over 500,000 Vesak and over 400,000 Christmas cards circulate during the festive seasons.

With the development in technology people today greet via E-mail and SMS. Since Christmas is around the corner the Sunday Observer spoke to pavement vendors who sell Christmas cards. Streets and shops in Colombo and suburbs are decorated with colourful bulbs and Christmas trees.

Greeting Cards Association President and the owner of St. Michael’s Stationer, Robinson Morais said he started the business 23 years ago from his late father Joseph Anthony Morais.

My father started a Christmas card printing press and a sales centre in front of St. Anthony’s Church Kochchikade during 1960’s.

The business went on for over 45 years with the support of his brothers, Lawrance and Dickson. Davidson Morais looks after the printing press at Kochchicade and he designs cards according to customer needs.

He said there were three other prominent Christmas card printers and sellers in Pettah few years ago, but they had to stop their business due to the importation of cards from India and China.

Davidson, has called upon authorities to stop importing Christmas cards to encourage local card printers. Robinson said a large number of buyers from various parts of the country buy a large stock of Christmas cards during the season.

He said a large number of cards are sold in Moratuwa, Wattala, Hendala, Wennappuwa, Je-ela, Mt. Lavinia and Wellawatta during the season.

He said in addition to Christmas cards, they also print birthday, wedding and other greeting cards. Sarath Peris a Christmas card seller at Bambalapitiya said imported Christmas cards are cheaper. The sale of local cards will drop and the industry will be badly affected.

A Christmas card seller, Kumarasiri Peris said companies and Government institutions buy a large stock of cards with the logos of the institution printed on the card. Gamini Lakmal, a card seller at Bambalapitiya said over 10 vendors erect temporary stalls along the Galle Road during Christmas and New Year seasons, but due to security reasons they are unable to carry on their business.

He called upon authorities to allow them to do their business during the festive season. Flavian de Silva, a owner of a Christmas card sales centre at Moratuwa, said Christmas card sellers should be allowed to do their business at the Katunayaka International Airport premises during the festive season. A greeting card seller R.P. Namal of Maradana said unlike during previous years, Police do not allow them to do business on the pavements. He therefore requested authorities to allow them to carry out their business on the pavements during the festive season.