First it was the Shopping Precinct housing a host of restaurants at the former Dutch Hospital which was making the rounds and now it is 'One Street Three Venues' at Park Street Colombo 2 - all indicating Sri Lankans' appetite for eating out and more importantly, the increase in their consumer spending.

The cash-strapped Sri Lankan government's delay in paying billions of rupees of outstanding payments for construction consultants and contractors has created serious problems for the local construction industry, a stalwart of the industry said.