Christmas Spirit in Sri Lanka as I Saw it
Reproduced from the Eighty Club, Melbourne, January 2006 newsletter
June and I arrived in Katunayake, Colombo at about midnight on the 8th of December and my first impression was that I had taken a wrong flight and arrived at some other destination. I expected the usual mobile staircase to help us alight from the plane and a coach to drive us to the terminal building. However, much to my amazement, I found myself walking from the plane into a modern accordion carriageway which took me straight into a brand new Immigration area tiled and walled in marble. Quick smart passage through Immigration, some shopping for duty-free booze in a conveniently located shop and then into a large hall where one of about four or five carousels delivered our luggage to us with no problems. A very nice arrival hall indeed complete with all modern fittings such as moving walkways, escalators etc.
I noticed that there were Christmas decorations here and there but during the drive to Bambalapitiya, I was amazed to find that almost every commercial building was draped from top to bottom in hundreds and hundreds of twinkling jets. Curtains of light covered every building and the lights got more elaborate as we entered the City. Even the humdrum roundabouts had been beautifully decorated with lights and art work, paid for and maintained by various shops such as Odel's. Large posters, featuring Santa Claus, urged motorists not to drink and drive and were plastered everywhere. Swarna Mahal Jewellers in Colpetty had the largest and best fibre optic Christmas tree that I had ever seen. What a fantastic sight that was!
The next morning saw us out and about and shopping in Majestic Plaza and other shopping malls. People went about their business without any fear or hesitation and the only 'terrorists' they seemed to dread were those with wings and six legs - the dreaded Chikungunya Flu carrying mosquito. We were stopped at a couple of security check points but were quickly sent on our way after our passports had been examined. We were always treated with courtesy by servicemen who were only doing their jobs, after all. Christmas music played continuously in the background whilst the insides of the shops and malls were all gaily decorated. One of our first purchases was a Breudher from Green Cabin which we took back to our Guest House and devoured with slabs of New Zealand Butter and Dutch Edam cheese from John Keells Supermarket. Delicious!
I have never seen such a plethora of restaurants and eating places as I have seen in Colombo, particularly along the Galle Road. Every taste is catered for. There is the traditional Sinhala cuisine and also Tamil, Chettinad, Muslim, Malay, Chinese, Italian; you name it and it is there, not forgetting Burgher food being sold at the Dutch Burgher Union. They sell Lamprais made to a Dutch recipe and call it DUTCH COURAGE! To wash it down you can buy bottles of Milk Wine and/or King Coconut Wine. I tried the latter for the first time and found it - well, different! During the Christmas season there were also Breudhers available at the DBU.
June and I attended a Carol Service at the DBU one evening and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves thanks to the hospitality of the President, Ms. Kem Martenstyn. At about 11.30 pm we heard the thunderous sound of crackers for the first time since we left Sri Lanka many years ago. Then, in marched a party of carol singers from the Burgher Association led by Santa Claus and their President, Mr. Dunstan Kelaart. They sang beautifully for about half an hour, took up a hat collection for the poor and left to the sound of more crackers.
The healthy interaction between these two 'Burgher' Clubs was a good thing to see.
Despite the troubles and travails being experienced by Sri Lanka and its people, I could see that the Christmas spirit was very much alive and well and people of all faiths still celebrated the festival as they have always done. Our Welfare Beneficiaries really appreciated the bonus of Rs.2500 that each of them received and speaking to a few of them revealed that they would still celebrate Christmas in the same old way - with liberal doses of 'old stuff' followed by yellow rice and 'fowl' curry. Their gratitude to the EIGHTY CLUB was touching to see.
June and I left Colombo a couple of days before Christmas and the last and most impressive sight we saw was in the Departure Lounge of the Katunayake Airport. A life sized tableau of the Nativity complete with the Three Kings, Joseph and Mary, the Infant Jesus etc. In other words, a CRIB. This was in a so-called Third World Buddhist country and I stood there transfixed at the sight. So, it is possible for people of different Faiths to live together in the same country and celebrate each other’s Festivals and Feasts without giving offence to any individual or his religion, I said to myself. Good on you, Sri Lanka!
We celebrated Christmas, our Golden Wedding Anniversary and welcomed the New Year in the fairyland that is Singapore. June had the Chikungunya Flu but that is another story!
Darryl Isaaks
Co-ordinator,
Welfare Beneficiaries
