Floating market adds charm to the city
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The
floating market |
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The
floating market - another view |
See how the city has changed over time. Areas that
were once covered with dust and rubble are gleaming in green now.
Algae infested lakes are now a soothing sight in the scorching heat
of Colombo. Old, worn-down buildings with great architecture that
were abandoned have become lively shopping malls.
Following geo-political changes that took place in
the country in May 2009, more attention was paid to the overall
development of the country by the Government. Out of which
developing the country's commercial hub the Colombo city became a
priority.
The City of Colombo continued to grow as the prime
Commercial Capital of Sri Lanka. If not for the drawbacks we
experienced before 2009, the strategic location of Sri Lanka in
general and the City of Colombo in particular, located in close
proximity to vital international marine transportation routes, would
have grown dramatically as the key commercial hub of Asia.
Though noisy, dirty pavements infested with street
vendors is a common sight in a city of a developing country, people
always wish for a reasonably clean and calm environment. When people
are enjoying a peaceful environment all over the country why not
experience the same feeling when they are in the capital city? The
government's policy framework the Mahinda Chinthana: Vision for
Future has correctly recognised these development trends and
strengthened the institutional framework which directly involved the
Urban Development Sector and adopted clear strategies to develop
Colombo and other important and regional centres of Sri Lanka. A
number of projects were implemented to upgrade the physical
condition of the Colombo city based on the garden city concept. A
lot of leisure activities for the public have been created providing
opportunities to witness real freedom.
Clearing the pavements was the first step taken by
the Government in rejuvenating the busiest town in the country. Many
who were coming from faraway places to Colombo for many reasons
found this very safe.
The Pettah is a much visited place by people from
all over the country - buses to Colombo start and end their journey
in the Pettah; trains bring thousands of people daily to the Pettah
and Fort. Thus there is no end to the noise, the garbage and chaos.
To end the menace, Floating market comes in to the
Pettah. It is the new construction going on along the Bastian
Mawatha - the busiest part of the Pettah.
The dirty canal running along Bastian Mawatha is
now clean and odor free. It is where the shops built to a unique
architecture are ready to be housed by businesses. Most of the
development and beautification work in the Colombo city happen by
the Urban Development Authority (UDA) operating under the Ministry
of Defence and Urban Development.
"Though certain concerned parties opposed we had
to move out the pavement vendors as a lot of accidents were taking
place with pedestrians being forced to walk on the road, especially
in congested areas like the Pettah", said UDA Chairman Nimal Perera.
"We were strictly instructed by the Secretary to the Ministry
Gotabaya Rajapaksa to ensure a separate place for the vendors to
restart their businesses.
And that was done in the heart of the Pettah. Now
the pedestrians can use the pavements without walking on the roads
and the businessmen can carry on their trade in a much better
place," Perera said. "Changes began taking place after President
Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over the UDA to the Ministry of Defence in
2010," said Perera.
"Then the UDA started working under the leadership
of Secretary to the Ministry Gotabaya Rajapaksa and we were able to
streamline development in the urban areas more efficiently which is
actually our main responsibility," he said. Coming under the
Ministry of Defence was a huge turning point for the UDA, according
to Perera. He added that it was methodical working with a Secretary
such as Gotabaya Rajapaksa who first observes the situation
thoroughly and then plans the next steps to be implemented. Many new
developments around Colombo was possible while making ventures for
the UDA to generate an income as well by leasing out these fully
facilitated business centres set up in the heart of Colombo. Though
it is not a high end market place, the floating market at the
Bastian Mawatha will bring a novel experience to the hardcore city
dweller as well as those who step in to Colombo for the first time.
"The space at the floating market is open for the smallest street
vendor," said Perera.
It will provide shops for vendors who were running
businesses on the streets of Pettah with almost 'zero' facilities.
The designing done under chartered Architect Thushari Kariyawasam is
inviting for a pedestrian to spend a few minutes at least to explore
the new world built on water. It will surely be very alluring to a
foreigner visiting Sri Lanka.
The efficient and methodical works of Sri Lanka
Army and Navy personnel is also another strong point in the elegant
finish of the floating market.
When the floating market opens in a few days,
travelling to Colombo will be a novel experience.
Courtesy : Sunday Observer |
