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| Sunday, 14 November 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Philomena - longest serving newspaper seller by Prasad Gunewardene She is the longest serving newspaper street seller in the city of Colombo. The 72-year-old Philomena Rapheal is a popular figure at newspaper offices. Sometimes she is the first in the queue at the Circulation Departments to book her number of copies. She is in the business for 35 years. I first met her in 1972 at the now defunct Independent Newspapers Ltd(Sun Group) where I started my mewspaper life. Even after 32 long years, Philomena looks very active in newspaper business. She has a stall in Fort from the begining. Located opposite the former Employment Exchange office beside Lake House, Philomena is at business by 6.30 in the morning sorting out publications to begin work as the workforce enters the city by 7.00 am. Dark in complexion with slim physique, she has been chewing betel for over four decades. She believes that chewing betel keeps her healthy and active throughout the day. Philomena has been a street seller for all publications. She treats all newspaper publishing offices alike. When asked which newspaper sells more, she replied, "Don't ask me embarassing questions as I live on the income I get from all sales". She had started the business way back in 1969 with her husband. The husband had been in charge of the stall while she did the walking to newspaper offices to pay and collect copies. The happy couple with four children in a small house at Slave Island lived on this income throughout. Misfortune stepped into her married life ten years ago. Her husband who went across the road to change some money was run over by a speeding bus near the Central Telegraph Office. Philomena, a determined woman did not give up the business. She enrolled her youngest son into the business while she did the travelling to newspaper offices. The mother and son successfully expanded the business by taking to the sale of lotteries. The lottery business was an additional income to the fatherless family. This family never hoped that this new business would strike luck some day. There happened to be a day that a ticket remained with no buyers despite Philomena pleading with those who passed by to buy it. Her son paid ten rupees to her and took it home. There was a reasonable luck in that ticket. The money was utilised for the benefit of her children. But she did not give up the newspaper street sales business. "Selling newspapers is now my hobby that gives me an additional income", Philomena proudly claimed when I concluded my discussion with her on Friday morning. |
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