Christmas around town!

by Nilma Dole and Ishara Mudugamuwa

Silver Bells, Silver Bells,

It’s Christmas time in the city...

While singing that joyful Christmas carol ‘Silver Bells’, the Christmas mood has now begun around the city. As we commemorate four years after the tragic tsunami, this year’s Christmas is definitely a time of giving.

Sunday Observer took a walk along Main Street, Pettah to ask pavement hawkers and shopkeepers whether Christmas business is booming. Sunil Dodanwela, a pavement hawker said that business was not as good as last year because of the uncertain weather pattern due to heavy rains. D.P. Anura, a shop keeper working in Pettah for 30 years said that business will only pick up after the 20th of December just in time for the Christmas rush.

The police patrolling the Pettah area said that shoppers have not reported major problems except for some minor incidents. “Overall, we can say that Pettah is a safe place to shop because people frequent the area despite the traffic” said one police officer.

While walking around the busiest shopping centres in Colombo, customers expressed their views on Christmas shopping. Says Ishini, a Sri Lankan domiciled in the UK, who is in the city for Christmas celebrations, “Compared to the prices abroad, shopping in Sri Lanka is always economical and the variety is good”.

Shemanie, a Sri Lankan shopper said that shopping in the city isn’t the same as before due to the current situation of the country. “This year, I hope to donate money to a worthy cause for the tsunami commemoration day instead of shopping too much” she said. Further, she highlighted that local radio stations have steered charity drives that are good campaigns this Christmas.

Chami, a working executive said that shopping was best done during Christmas because of bargains and discounts.

Lisa, a tourist from Australia said that shopping is really good in Colombo especially during the Christmas season. “I was happy to come to Sri Lanka to celebrate Christmas because this is the best place to have a holiday” she said.

Sunday Observer even asked a few celebrities what they thought of Christmas shopping in town. Nilmini Tennekoon and her daughter said that shopping in the city is fun and interesting. Popular singing duo Umara and Umaria said that the cost of living has made it difficult for some to afford shopping this year but people have been economical shoppers by obtaining the maximum on their Christmas budget with the bargains on offer. “Even though this year we are still having a war in the country, we are hopeful that next year will be a peaceful Christmas” said Umara.

Popular shopping centres in Colombo have also been decorated in time to herald Christmas this year. Large Christmas trees, giant Christmas placards, art exhibitions, Christmas carollers and a Snow Dome are all popular attractions even for window shoppers. Massive Christmas shopping sales at leading exhibition centres around the city have also got into the Christmas spirit by attracting many shoppers this season.Some popular shops have even gone to the extent of helping customers and spread their goodwill by coordinating donations. Says Janidu Seneviratne of a leading coffee shop at Flower Road, “This year we are having a charity project called ‘Child Share’ where we will officially hand over items donated by our customers to the needy children at the Community Concern Centre in Dehiwala”.This year’s Christmas isn’t celebrated much because of the waging war in the country but people now prefer to give their Christmas bonus to charity because they realise that shopping isn’t something that brings happiness. Many are hopeful that the war will end so that next year’s Christmas will be a peaceful one.

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!