“Develop bare lands immediately” – Minister Faiszer Musthapha

Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faiszer Musthapha instructed the Colombo Municipal Commissioner V.K. Anura to take immediate steps to develop bare lands in Colombo. Minister asked to seek the assistance of the Board of Investment in this task. Minister took these decisions at an inspection tour to the public market which is under the administration of the Colombo Municipal Council. Minister Musthapha visited the public market at Deans Road, Maradana, the Super Market in Kollupitiya, and the slaughterhouse in Dematagoda. The aim of the visit was to improve the facilities of the public market at Colombo and to make bare lands useful by developing them.

Hon. Minister discussed with the traders and the customers, about their needs and difficulties. Minister Musthapha instructed the Colombo Municipal Commissioner to facilitate those three markets and to create a proper procedure to attract more customers. Minister also asked to facilitate the car park of the Super Market at Kollupitiya and to use the income gained by the car park toenhance the market.

Traders in Deans Road, Maradana, pointed out that there is a lack of customers for the market, due to the unauthorized pavement hawkersnear the market. Minister advised to let those pavement hawkersto trade inside the market. In addition, Minister asked the Colombo Municipal Council to improve the market before renting them, so that a proper income would be received.

Minister Faiszer Musthapha also visited a land of 5 arcs where the Dematagoda slaughterhouse in is located. Dr. VipulaDharmarathne, the chief Veterinary Officer of the Colombo Municipal Council pointed out that the expenditure of the slaughterhouse is higher than the income gained from it. Minister Musthapha asked to make plans to use the premises for a more useful task like having a housing project. After visiting illegally constructed houses and trade centers, Minister Musthapha stated that the necessary legal actions would be taken to remove them.

 Colombo Municipal Commissioner V.K. Anura was asked to recall another discussion with the Board of Investment, after taking necessary steps in facilitating the Colombo public markets, improving the income, and developing bare lands to make the proper use of them.