Happy shoppers this New Year

• Prices leave many unconcerned in buying frenzy 

By Shezna Shums

Shoppers in the city were largely pleased with the bargains on offer and variety of goods that they collected for Avurudu this year.        

Over the last few days, crowds of people made their way to the shops and especially shopping areas such as Pettah, Maharagama, Pamunuwa and Nugegoda to finish their Avurudu shopping as the New Year approached.

Many people were seen picking up bargains at sales being held at SLECC and BMICH, featuring stalls of clothing, food and gifts. People were also doing some of their shopping at the Expo Bazaar organised by the Export Development Board to take advantage of the country’s exports products that were on sale.

Many of the people stated that they were looking for reasonably priced items and that the quality and selections they came across during the sales were also good.

People were not only buying clothes and gifts but sweetmeats and other imported food items that were on sale as well.

Colombo also saw an increased number of vehicles bringing in people from the outstations who come looking for good deals during this festive season. The streets of Colombo saw extra traffic and crowds of people outside the main shops and shopping areas in the run up to the New Year.

The SLECC not only saw the usual stalls of local goods on sale but foreign stalls selling furniture, imported wall hangings, electrical appliances and even imported clothing, while a new feature was an artist doing portraits of individuals.

Supermarkets too got into the Avurudu spirit where village like huts were built to sell the Avurudu sweetmeats and bananas.

Most of the sales had started the week before and some of the traders admitted that sales were slow initially but as the New Year approached, they were seeing more customers and more sales.

During the Avurudu season and the places where more crowds are expected, even the Police deployed more officers both in uniform and civil clothing to keep pickpockets and other unscrupulous people at bay.

These officers are deployed at crowded places and on public transportation as well to keep an eye out for any suspicious activities or persons.