Car parks foiled LTTE terrorist bomb attacks

By Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Terrorist attacks unleashed by the LTTE in the past in Colombo city prompted police and the Defence Ministry to draw up a plan to prevent such attacks being unleashed in the metropolis. The idea of setting up of car parks in the Colombo city, was mooted almost four years ago. It was a two pronged idea to ease the traffic congestion in the city and to prevent bomb laden vehicles exploding in the street corners in the city. Foremost in the minds of police and defence officials was a plan to set up car parks in the city.

Meanwhile, Fort and Kollupitiya areas were declared as high security zones in the light of attacks staged by terrorists in the commercial hub. Five star hotels and the Central Bank and several other business establishments became the targets of the terrorists.

Earmarked

The police, after carrying out a relentless survey in Colombo city earmarked land for setting up of car parks in many buffer zones. The move prevented motorists from parking vehicles in a haphazard manner. It also prevented LTTE cadres launching attacks from vehicles laden with explosives. Setting up of car parks also facilitated the free flow of traffic on city trunk roads.

In the meantime, the Defence Ministry clamped down on parking of vehicles on city roads citing security concerns. There were intelligence reports that terrorists were planning attacks in the city with vehicle bombs. The no parking zone operation got under way almost three years ago. Parking on roads, thoroughfares and on pavements were strictly prohibited.

However, during the initial period, vehicles parked on roads were hauled away to police stations and released after the imposition of fines. However, it took weeks for motorists to realise the availability of car parks in the Colombo city. The presumption is that motorists are still not familiar with the availability of car parks in the city limits.

According to former DIG, City Traffic Police, Y. M. Laffir, the operation to set up car parks began four years ago. OICs of Police stations in Colombo were briefed to find suitable vacant land for converting them into car parks.

30,000 vehicles

There were estimates that 30,000 or more vehicles entered the city daily. The volume of traffic has grown larger over the years. The Police Media Spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekara said traffic jams and pile ups in the city have been minimised after car parks were set up. The uni-flow traffic system also had contributed to the smooth flow of traffic on city roads. The no parking zones on roads have been marked with yellow line for the benefit of motorists.

For the benefit of the motorists we give below some of the car parks available in the Colombo city. Of all car parks in the city, the new car park located adjacent to the Beira Lake opposite the Lake House is an enormous one.

According to City Traffic Police, more than 800 cars could be parked with ease. The new car park is located where the Government's Supplies Department stood once. The following are the other car parks located in the city.