National New Year of peace and tranquillity:

Avurudu cheer grips nation

Chaminda Perera and Disna Mudalige

*Cities swarm with last minute shoppers

*Avurudu festivities in the North

The entire nation took on a festive atmosphere as the vast majority prepared for the dawn of the New Year tomorrow - the second national New Year celebrated in an environment of peace and tranquillity following an end to three decades terrorism.

Frantic last minute buying was witnessed yesterday in the capital city and major towns as large crowds thronged the streets in a buoyant spirit with fears of bombs and explosions no more haunting their minds.

Lak Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando told the Daily News that islandwide Lak Sathosa retail outlets experienced a large crowd of Avurudu shoppers this year with Lak Sathosa earning a record turnover this New Year season of Rs 175 - 200 million sales volumes per day.

He said this is three times more than the turnover of the previous New Year adding that sales at all 250 retail outlets have shown a sharp increase. Between 200,000 to 250,000 customers visited their retail outlets daily during the last few days. The chairman also said that the stability maintained in the prices of essential items from April 1 at these retail outlets contributed to the increase in sales.

Meanwhile, a Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival organized under the guidance of Northern Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe will be held at the Velvettiturai Public playground on April 14 and 15. ITN will give live coverage to the event while ANCL (Lake House) will be the print media sponsors.

There will be several items and competitions including tug-o-war, marathon race, cycle races, spot the Dinamina hidden visitor contest and a boat race off the Velvettithurai coast, said Major Ranjith Mallawarachchi media co-ordinator, Jaffna Security Forces Camp.

Unprecedented crowds in the Pettah and also in stretches on the Kandy - Colombo road saw heavy traffic jams with the police trying to restore a semblance of order.

The Police also deployed special teams to ensure security of the Avurudu shoppers. Meanwhile, the SLCTB and the CGR deployed additional buses and trains to cater to the large mass of people returning to the villages for the New Year festival.

These special services will remain till May 1 to facilitate their return, according to Railway Commercial Superintendent Wijaya Samarasinghe.

A Cooperatives and internal Trade Ministry spokesman said that this New Year is the first year that the prices of essentials did not fluctuate during the season.

Meanwhile, ODEL Head of Marketing Upendra Gunawardena said that there were about 10,000-8,000 customers daily during the past few days in its islandwide 13 branches.

Nolimit Head of Marketing M Akil noted that the number of customers in their 19 islandwide showrooms increased daily during past few days. He said that there was a tremendous growth in sales compared to last year.