A novel experience soon on the busy streets of Pettah:

Floating market adds charm to the city

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

UDA Chairman Nimal Perera

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.

The floating market

The floating market - another view

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.