Big demand for Christmas trees this season

With only a few days to the forthcoming Christmas festival the traditional Christmas tree sellers have established their sales outlets at several key places in Colombo City and suburbs from last Saturday.

Accordingly, the annual business activities of about 100 X’mas tree sellers will go until December 24, the eve of X’mas.

In addition to several outstation places such as Wattala, Ja-ela, Moratuwa, Dehiwala, Nugegoda, Mt. Lavinia and Negombo the tree sellers have once again occupied their main business centre opposite the BRC Grounds at Havelock Road, Thimbirigasyaya , Colombo.

The Christmas Tree Sellers Association member T. B. Wijesundara said during last December none of their members opened sales outlets opposite BRC Grounds or any other place owing to the Covid pandemic situation.

In an interview with Daily News Wijesundara said since the Covid situation became worst during the last X’mas season their usual business activities were crippled and as a result over 200 X’mas tree sellers and over 7,000 of their dependents including family members and X’mas tree suppliers faced immense financial hardships. He said these green fresh X’mas trees are oval shaped and transported to Colombo from places such as Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Diyatalawa and Talawakele.

According to a X’mas tree supplier Kamal Botheju during X’mas season they sell about 70,000 well grown and oval shaped X’mas trees with needle shaped leaves to buyers coming to Havelock Road from distant areas. Botheju said X’mas trees give a pleasant aroma and people have a belief that the tree is a symbol of a living Christmas spirit and it brings luck, happiness and joy to their lives.

He said X’mas trees are made out of well grown cypress plants and it takes nearly three years to reap cypress trees, which are cultivated in bare land or among tea plantations.

Meanwhile, Wijesundara said although large amount of cypress trees are sold during X’mas, these trees are also used even during off seasons for weddings , birthday parties and for similar ceremonies.

He said the cypress trees are also purchased by florists and event organizers.

He said if authorities pay attention, the cypress trees could also be exported to countries where these trees are not cultivated.

by Daily News Sri Lanka

, Local, ,

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