• The realities of navigating Colombo’s social scene during the rainy season 

As the monsoon rains approach following the intense heat Sri Lanka has been experiencing lately, the country is seeing glimpses of relief with recent drizzles and the occasional downpour. While the current change in the weather brings some welcome respite, it also heralds the arrival of more substantial rainfall. 

Unfortunately, this shift may not bode well for those who have only just begun to enjoy the finer things in life after the economic crisis.

With the economic crisis now somewhat behind us, Colombo’s social scene is slowly coming back to life and outdoor events are beginning to resume. A leisurely stroll down Marine Drive or Duplication Road reveals the return of street vendors, with clusters reappearing at familiar spots such as Frankfurt Place, in front of Mahanama College, and along Galle Road near Macleod Road. 

These bustling areas, complete with bright neon lights, attract plenty of customers and have become popular hangout spots not only for locals but also for visitors passing through. Galle Face is another hotspot where families gather to enjoy picnics, sunset views, and street food from vendors on any day of the week. However, the upcoming rainy season is likely to bring changes to these bustling scenes.

Speaking to some of these street vendors, The Sunday Morning Brunch learnt that the upcoming rainy season was a point of concern. Many said that when the rains reached their peak, they were forced to suspend their work and seek alternative means of income, especially if they relied on daily wages.

Vendor perspectives 

Many of the vendors at Galle Face Green shared that they typically anticipated the rainy season and worked around it accordingly. 

P. Dharshani, a long-time vendor selling kites at Galle Face, said: “Typically, when the rainy season comes, we don’t even bother to come to Galle Face. We usually either pack up and go to the east where the season is just beginning or find alternate means of income. It is very unfortunate, but this is a fact of life and all businesses that rely on the outdoors have to face this reality.”

She also added that since many of the Galle Face vendors were residents within this immediate vicinity, they simply undertook jobs involving manual labour around the area to manage during this period. “Many of us already work as maids in houses, so we just undertake additional shifts, while the men will get some household work like small construction work, cleaning, etc. to pass the time,” she said.

Lakshan Madhushanka, who maintains a beverage stand at Marine Drive, similarly shared that the rainy season simply meant less business. “We will simply start to close the stand a little earlier, or on really bad days, we won’t open the stand at all. These days have been really good because the days are hot and everyone wants to buy a drink when they see it on the street, but the rains will change that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Frankfort Place street vendors shared that they had been facing certain challenges with the warm weather as well. 

Chaiwala outlet Manager Mohammed Atheek said that the hot weather had deterred many of their customer base as well. “The current rainy weather that makes evenings cold has been somewhat good for business, especially with many people travelling on motorbikes tending to stop by to duck out from the rain. Thereafter, since it is cold, they will opt for a cup of tea. Shoppers also stop by and have some tea. However, with the heat, many people choose not to come, simply because hot food is not appealing during the day when the weather is so brutal,” he said.

Customer perspectives 

Brunch also spoke to some customers for their thoughts on how they hoped to spend their days during the rainy season, whereupon many shared that they had not given it much thought, other than to perhaps stay at home and accept the welcome change from the heat. 

Speaking to Brunch, Hiran Mahamoor, a visitor at Galle Face, said: “In Colombo, when it rains, there’s just about nothing to do. Unless you want to go shopping at malls and eat at restaurants, which are also fairly expensive, there is nothing for the ordinary person to do. When it rains, you can expect me to be chilling at home until things calm down.” 

Similar sentiments were shared by many in and about Colombo who tend to frequent such street vendors and other outdoor venues, who noted that goods were expensive at malls. “The food courts are very expensive and not very suited for families. We can’t even go to Pettah when it rains.”

It appears that the rains are somewhat welcome as a reprieve from the heat, but the social scene in Colombo may have to take a back seat unless you are willing to spend more for entertainment.