Sri Lanka, Feb. 14 -- Business owners report a significant decline in flower sales this Valentine's Day compared to previous years, driven by ongoing economic hardships and steep price hikes.

Florists note that demand for roses has fallen sharply as consumers cut back on non-essential spending.

Interestingly, vendors mentioned that sales in December and January were better than in February, a month that typically sees a peak in the floral trade.

Several factors contribute to this trend, including high taxes on imported flowers and a drop in local harvests from Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, which forced reliance on Indian imports. Rising transport and maintenance costs also pushed retail prices higher.

The current market rates are reporte...