Don’t we have a right to walk on the pavement?

After nearly two decades, the Nugegoda pavements were cleared of hawkers in June 2006 by the Kotte Mayoress enabling the pedestrians to use them freely.

But the hawkers returned to their usual haunts about three months ago. It is rumoured that the hawkers, claiming to be members of a union of self-employed people were permitted to return to the pavements on condition that there would be no obstruction whatever to the pedestrians and that the place is kept clean.

However, now they occupy both sides of the narrow pavement leaving only a little space in the middle which is blocked by bargain hunters, leaving no room for pedestrians. In addition, they have also put up a covering overhead to protect themselves and their wares from the sun and rain which prevents anyone from walking with an open umbrella. Though they had agreed to keep the place clean it is not so.

Please restore our right to use the pavements without obstruction by anyone at all.

By A supporter of the Chintanaya, Nugegoda