Cheap Shopping in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has a wide variety of attractive handicrafts on sale. Markets in major towns are good places to start. Top-quality vanilla beans, for example, are sold very cheaply. Colombo offers a great and growing range of places to shop . Elsewhere,interesting shops and boutiques are beginning to open in tourist areas. Laksala, a government-run store found in most cities and tourist towns, has items of reasonable quality. Tea is a very popular purchase.
Bargaining
Unless you are shopping at a fixed-price shop, you must bargain. Before you hit the open markets, peruse the prices in a fixed-price shop for an idea of what to pay. Generally, if someone quotes you a price, halve it. The seller will come down about halfway to your price, and the last price will be a little higher than half the original price. Try and keep a sense of perspective. Chances are you’re arguing over less than US$1.
Batik
Originally introduced by the Dutch in colonial times, the Indonesian art of batik is very popular in Sri Lanka. Some of the best and most original batik is made in the west-coast towns of Marawila, Mahawewa and Ambalangoda, and there are also several worthwhile
outlets in Kandy.
Gems
You’ll fi nd showrooms and private dealers all across Sri Lanka. In Ratnapura, the centre of the gem trade, it seems that everybody is a part-time gem dealer. Your challenge is the same here as elsewhere in the world: make sure what you’re being offered is not worthless
glass. The best way to avoid the myriad gem scams is to avoid buying any.
Masks
Sri Lankan masks are a popular collector’s item. They’re carved at a number of places, principally along the southwest coast. Look for shops from Galle and to the East.
Spices
Spices are integral to Sri Lanka’s culinary art and Ayurvedic traditions. A visit to a spice garden is a wonderful opportunity to discover the choice uses of acquainted spices.
