News
Govt. to crack down on hawkers in Colombo city
View(s):
Pedestrians happy with the move not so hawkers. Pix by Indika Handuwala
The Local government and Provincial Council Ministry is to go ahead with the plan to evict unauthorised hawkers within Colombo city limits.
Hawkers are mostly found in Pettah on 1st Cross Street, 2nd Cross Street, 5th Cross Street, Malwatte Road, Olcott Mawatha, Main Street, Bodiraja Mawatha and Gas Paha junction.
According to the Ministry, of the 1000 hawkers in Colombo city more than 500 sell their wares on the pavements of Pettah.
A Ministry official told the Sunday Times that, in addition, there were more than 200 unauthorised lottery counters on the pavements. Of them 36 are in Pettah. He added that more than 100 unauthorised mobile shops (shops on wheels) operated on pavements with more than 40 found in Pettah.
Chinthana Liyenega who regularly walks along 1st Cross Street welcomed the move to crack down on pavement vendors saying that many were aggressive forcing people who walk by to buy their goods. “They also obstruct pedestrians and it is an ideal spot for pick-pockets too,” he said.
However giving another side to the story a vendor opposite the Fort Railway Station Sagarika Malki (58) said, “We have been doing business here for over 30 years now. Our children too are engaged in the same business, selling various goods on the pavements of Pettah. Now we will have no income.”
Another vendor 35-year-old Mohammed Siddiqe said, “We are poor people. This is not fair. If we’re given an alternate place we are more than willing to move out of this place.”
