McCallum Road - Colombo's latest commercial hub

By Afreeha Jawad

Once considered one of Colombo's best bit of road stretch - a treat to any motorist - McCallum Road is fast losing fame. In the course of 'Sinhalization' the rather aristocratic sounding English name later took on a native twist - D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha - whose newspaper tycoon recognition is no mean public knowledge. Attributing this name change to the highway's loss of fame is not writer intention though to the vain bourgeois Sri Lankan middle class what is global has more appeal than what comes off the local with exception of the ultra-nationalistic mindset.

Lest writer digression should take its toll on reader patience.. go take a walk down here or while at the wheel first relax your speedometer .. take a look on both sides of this once haven of motorists, you are sure not to miss out on all kinds of recently initiated ventures - mostly automobile related.

Whether it is another Panchikawatte in the making is anybody's guess. But my point is this. How come all these enterprises came up? Who licenced all of such on valuable crown land? What could have been the pecuniary windfall for those that legitimized such construction?

From beginning to end - this once peaceful road stretch - except when a motorist was on a brake testing spree bears food outlets, tyre retreading centres, printing institutes, labelled religious enclaves, mobile sales points, fertilizer outlets car service and three wheeler repairing centres and to top it all the very stinking Beira - not at all complimentary of its scenic beauty. Besides all what the Beira has to offer by becoming Colombo's 'Star class perfumery', D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha is not lacking in such joints practically every may be 700 yards or so. Pile upon pile of dirt also is accumulated on either side. In some areas the once neatly laid pavement tiles are dislodged while parts of the highway that bore neat carpetting has lost its originality.

By the way, what could happen to the now 'shutters up' Urban Development Authority - UDA and CWE outlet. Could it be some behind the curtain transaction is taking place prior to future occupation. Will these also be space for some future starry restaurants or some high brow automobile ventures?

Significantly an unchangeable feature along this road despite its transformation at varied points are the near age old row of book shops at road end going from Fort. Who said people have given up the reading habit? These book vendors still have large clientele. Reputedly a store house for all kinds of old literature, it has weathered many a storm in continuing to stand where it does.

As for the road's very tranquil characteristic, worthy of recall is the constant sound of crickets that gripped this entire roadway long years back only to be replaced now with container carriers, bulldozers, tractors and what not which noise and exhaust fumes would unnerve any jay walker.

However, it has not missed out on its offering of life's lighter side. Apart from its potential of becoming another Panchikawatte junk yard, it also is promised land for the weary managerial toff turned evening lover who with his consort prefers this choice destination - this time not under an umbrella but in one of those four wheeler chariots - or to put it in kultur language-limousine.

Pix by Ruwan de Silva