News

The new security arrangements and the parking restrictions imposed on vehicles entering Colombo City is having a multiple impact on those residing in the City or who daily arrive here for employment or on business.

Many business establishments in Colombo have been affected by the increasing security and the new parking regulations which came into effect earlier this month.

The Road Development Authority said that apart from the vehicles already operating within Colombo more than 180,000 vehicles including motorcycles enter the city everyday from eight different entry points and according to Traffic Police there are 29 public and private car parks in Colombo for the convenience of road users.

No vehicles are permitted to be parked on the roadside. They should use a designated car park or a by lane.

These parking restrictions have badly affected trishaw drivers with more than 1,200 trishaw-stands being removed and some 17,000 trishaws operating within Colombo.

Fort Three-wheeler Association president M.D.U. Wijeymanne said the new regulations were especially harsh on the Fort trishaw drivers as there were no by lanes in Fort for parking trishaws. He said they were given 18 trishaw stands for the 562 trishaws operating in Fort but with the new regulations coming into force all these stands have been removed.

All Island Three-wheeler Drivers’ Welfare Association president Lalith Dharmasena said the police had undertaken to discuss this matter with the army and would take some action within a week to reduce the inconvenience.”
Business establishments too have suffered greatly due to these parking regulations and many shopkeepers complain of losses and inconvenience because their customers had to walk long distances after parking their vehicles.

The Fruit Shoppe Supermarket Superintendent Imran Shahul Hameed said they had a 40% drop in sales due to these new parking laws.

“There are plenty of supermarkets in Colombo with their own parking spots so customers would rather go there,” he said.

Motor Vehicle Spare Parts Association President Ravindra Senaratne said that the customers who earlier parked their vehicles just opposite the spare part shops could not do so now and were reluctant to come to Colombo due to parking restrictions.

Despite large signs saying parking on the side of Darley road is ‘strictly for customers’, Mr. Senaratne said vehicles were allowed to park only for about 10 minutes.

“The customers are asked to purchase the spare parts or accessories they want and move out quickly. We are now finding it difficult to make even Rs. 5,000 rupees a day because sales have dropped by about 50%.”

The Manager of the Duplication Road branch of Mobitel, Nilanjith Gunawardena said there was a 5 to 10% drop in customers as it is inconvenient for them to come to this branch. “I have personally seen policemen come into our shop and scold our customers because they had parked on the main road,” he said.

Colombo Traffic Police Senior Superintendent G.M. Lafir told the Sunday Times that the car park at Marine Drive could accommodate about 60 to 70 cars, Palmyrah Avenue car park upto 100 cars and the car park between Reid Avenue and Lauries Road about 300 cars.

He said school vans have been provided with five official car parks around Colombo where the vehicles could be parked after the children were dropped.

“Furthermore, the Principals of all the schools have issued stickers to identify school van drivers so that they can park near the school premises when dropping or picking up children. Vans without this sticker will not be allowed to park near any school,” he said.

SSP Lafir said traffic, congestion and accidents on Colombo roads had reduced tremendously and the government was on the lookout for more parking space to reduce inconvenience to the general public.

Colombo Municipal Council Commissioner Jayantha Liyanage told the Sunday Times Traffic Wardens had not been that affected by these changes.

“We have relocated some of the Wardens to places near hospitals such as Asiri and Nawaloka and to Duplication Road and Colombo East,” he said.

Private Bus Owners Association President Gemunu Wijeratne told the Sunday Times that this problem did not apply to buses, as they had been allocated separate bus stops and parking areas around the city.

“These new regulations have actually benefited us because now that trishaw stands have been cleared there is enough space on the roads. Buses are working faster now and are more efficient,” he said.

When asked about the security checks on all vehicles entering Colombo, Mr. Wijeratne said a reduced number of passengers were travelling to Colombo.

“We have witnessed about a 50% drop in the number of passengers on buses entering Colombo. But we cannot complain because national security takes precedence.”