News
Chilaw fish market in a state of neglect
The public fish market in Chilaw, located on a two-acre block of land bordering the Chilaw lagoon is posing a major health hazard to the public.
The market itself has no proper sanitation facilities. Its surroundings are unhygienic with the waste heaped within the premises itself and not properly disposed of. The market also lacks proper handling and storage space.
The grounds surrounding the market resemble a muddy bog and the undisposed waste emanates a terrible stench. People including foreign tourists, visiting the market are seen covering their noses because of the stench which pervades the area.
The building which houses the market itself is in a dilapidated state. In places the roof is liable to collapse and resembles some of the ruins in the ancient city of Anuradhapura rather than a so-called modern market in the vicinity of the country’s capital.
Recently there was much activity on the premises of the market place, with members of the UPFA- controlled municipal council moving in and out regarding the construction of a new small building. No one seems to know what this building is being constructed for.
Though these shortcomings at the market are blatant and exposed during a recent survey, all of this seems to have bypassed the attention of the Public Health Inspector who has done nothing to correct the situation.
Now, to make matters worse, an acre of land from the two-acre block on which the public fish market was situated has been taken over by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, leaving only an acre on which the activities of the market can be conducted.
This has worsened an already bad situation with hardly any space available for parking vehicles including transport vehicles and vehicles of those visiting the market to make purchases.
