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| Sunday, 18 January 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Galle Face blues laid to rest? by Jayanthi Liyanage Visit Galle Face Green around 7 p.m. on any week day and you will meet a fair sampling of the diehard patrons of that well trodden turf. Drop by on a Sunday and you will have to navigate your way though a mass of humanity gathered there for purposes of leisure, recreation and trade (and possibly some discreetly dubious activity as well).
Those who remained were the couples, Colombo's day-time employed, and the outstation visitors who sought to scatter their woes in the winds blowing over the vast sea and across the solemn spaces of the Green. A rendezvous that depended on the security afforded by the Green, as the night progressed; and the availability of food. Concerns had been quite a few, when news broke out of the "take-over" of the Green by EAP Edirisinghe and Co. Ltd.(EAP). Would this end an era of getaway evenings, provided free of cost, at probably the only wide open stretch of space available to Colombo's constricted population? Would commercialism crowd out the informal vendors who frequent the Green, and with that, its unrestricted accessbility? Will the magic of sprawling on the grass, lying on mats and enjoying the bites of devilled kadalai, salty breeze and starry skies come to an end, with the Galle Face Green becoming yet another site of commercial clutter with blaring loudspeakers? Speaking to a few citizens relaxing at the Green on Tuesday night to find out what brought them to the Green, the Sunday Observer got the impression that on weekdays, the Green turned into a veritable haven of "temporary refuge for relaxation" for those passing Colombo, or coming from distant areas. Four young women sat on the Green late at night, enjoying the nocturnal scenery. "We arrived from Devundara in the evening and came here to relax and enjoy a quiet night in the sea breeze," said one. A medical student from Peradeniya, on his monthly visit to see his girlfriend, commented that they always chose to meet at the Green, "as it is the only place in Colombo that can provide some security and freedom to courting couples." A child ran up to ask for a pony ride along the seaside promenade. "Twenty rupees for a kiddie ride," informed the young man, with a casual aside to me, "Thirty for adults, and no doubles for them!" For all those people, the carefree informality of the Green was what lured them. Suhar (not his real name), who sold inflated toys at the fringes of the Green, near the food and ice cream vans lining the outer promenade, said that sales surged during the musical events at the Green. While the Urban Development Authority (UDA), under whose purview the Green came, allowed them to peddle until 2 a.m., he usually closed at 12. Until the previous month, Suhar had paid the UDA site office a monthly rent of Rs.1,500, while another vendor at one of the food stalls lining the seaward fringe of the Green, had paid Rs.3,750. "I understand that our next payment will have to be made to the EAP Company," said Suhar. "I hope that the rent would remain at a reasonable level while I also realise that improved facilities could bring in more crowds and improve sales." He also said that the President and the Secretary of the vendor association at Galle Face Green had resigned and that a meeting of the new commitee is yet to be convened. Suhar had trepidations about a possible rate hike. "An EAP officer told us that the rates might increase. All we are concerned about is having the freedom to carry out our business unrestrictedly at the Green."
J.J. Silva, operating Kamta Foods at the Green, welcomed the take-over by a private firm, hoping it would develop the Green to international standards. "What is now availble here as one of most famous scenic locations in the country, can hardly be compared to the facilities I have seen at similar locations in Singapore and Japan." On-site UDA officials added that while rules on hygiene for foods are in place, the desired standards may not be maintained in implementation. Concerns had been voiced at the meeting held at the Secretariat of the Governor - Western Province on January 6, 2004, on the handing over of the Green to the private sector, with the Governor S. Alavi Maulana, Colombo District Members of Parliament and UDA officials attending. Anxiety had been expressed that the move could curtail the liberty of the Sri Lankan public to freely enjoy a heritage of theirs. J.R.A. Fernando, Director-Rest Houses Management Division, UDA, sought to appease such public anxieties, emphasising, "This is not a sale, or a lease, or a mortgage, or a pawn, but only a management agreement awarded to EAP for two years, to upgrade the standards of food, beverages and entertainment on the Green. This will be closely monitored by the UDA." "I also want to stress that the entrance to the Green will be 100 per cent free of charge," said Fernando. "There will be no barricades and the view, the sunset, the sea breeze and the scenery will be 100 per cent free. There will be no permanent structures to block the view. Galle Face is a national asset and what right does the UDA have to restrict the public access to it? After the agreement signed on December 15, 2003, the Green is gradually being handed over to EAP. The facilities are now being upgraded for the official launch in March." The UDA has also lit-up the entire Green and used pest control to get rid of stray dogs and rats. Ponies offering rides to children need a clearance certificate from a veterinary doctor. "All age groups visiting the Green, from the beggar to the millionaire, will find entertainment to suit each one," assured Fernando. "The privacy of the visitors will not be disturbed and the umbrella lovers will not be hampered. The entertainment will not disturb the public. There will be no loud speakers except for the existing public address system, which helps the on-site Police to locate a lost child by alerting the public. A doctor too will be available at the Green from March onwards". "The food will be hygienic," reassured Fernando. "I am an experienced hotelier myself, having run my family concern, Grosvenor Caterers. The UDA also developed the food court at Sethsiripaya." The current 42 stalls at the Green have been handed over to EAP. The vendors needed an entry pass from the UDA and the stall rates ranged from Rs. 1,750 to about Rs. 10,000. "The UDA has given strict instructions to EAP not to increase rates as vendors are part and parcel of the Green," said Fernando. Security and maintenance will remain firmly in the hands of the UDA. "We work with the Police and private security personnel to provide 24-hour security on the Green. Liquor is not allowed. UDA employs specialised staff to clean and maintain the Green." Fernando said that the UDA intended to make availble the entire acreage of the Green, amounting to 15 acres, available to the public. Only a portion is now being used. The contract had been awarded on tender. Among the other main contenders besides EAP, were Cargills, Friends and Partner Advertising and the entertaining company Lanfurd and Sembler (Pvt) Ltd. ###### Private management of public space : For whose benefit? by Lakmal Welabada Hafeez Rajudin, Director of Sales and Marketing of the E.A.P. Edirisinghe Group of Companies told the Sunday Observer that they have taken the Galle Face Green from the Urban Development Authority "on a two-year Management Agreement for activation and entertainment". He said they had two main objectives. firstly to improve the food, beverage and entertainment available at the Green by bringing them upto international standard and making it a better recreation spot for both locals and tourists. And secondly to provide more safety and put an end to various underhand and illegal activities that occur day and night in that vicinity. The UDA will continue to maintain the Green. At the launch in mid March, the EAP hopes to provide a food court with Sri Lankan, Chinese, Malaysian and other Asian and non-Asian food. "It should be clearly stated that all the stalls will be temporary lodgings. Though it is intended to maintain International standards, the food will be sold at affordable prices so that all walks of people who come to Galle Face can relax and enjoy it," Mr. Rajudin said. "We have designed the stalls in such a way that the sunset can be seen through the stalls. And the food court will be open for 24-hours. In order to protect our property there, we hope to have our own security service as well," he explained. Mr. Rajudin strictly denied that their activities would adversely affect the small vendors who have been carrying on their trade there for years. "The Urban Development Authority has already given us the list of 134 names of those who have registered with them as vendors. These people won't be a threat to us, and we won't be a threat to them. We hope to issue identity cards for them. "We will be charging the same rent that the UDA has been charging them. But we will be very concerned about the quality and the hygiene of the food they sell and hope to guide them in food preparation as we are catering to the local as well as to the international community. Also we hope to consider improving the temporary structures they are using," he said. Mr. Rajudin also said there would be many entertainment activities like musical and fashion shows. Organisers who want to use Galle Face Green for such activities will have to apply to EAP as they did with UDA earlier. The rental charges and other procedures related to such activities will be handled by EAP. But the shows will be free of charge for the general public. He further said EAP will allow the Green to be used for religious activities and other public functions free of charge, at their discretion on condition such groups do not offend the feelings of any other religious group or any community. "Also there'll be weekend entertainment for children like magic shows and kite festivals. Again all that will be free of charge," he added. Mr. Rajudin denied that there were plans afoot to set up a 'Giant screen' for movies or loudspeakers that would disturb the neighbourhood. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Walking along the Green one typical evening, I found families that
gazed at the sunset, and strolled, chatted, played games and flew kites,
were already getting into home-bound buses and private vehicles.
