An eyesore to the public and a fast growing health hazard

Residents of the area who expressed concern about the dilapidated condition of the Panadura public market said the proposed plan to construct a new building had been brushed under the carpet. They pointed out that the Panadura town has turned into a squalid one due to the sad state of the public market.

Representatives of the trade association said they met the Secretary of the Panadura Urban Council and took up the issues affecting them due to the dilapidated condition of the market

The public market is an eyesore in the town. All petty traders including fish and vegetable sellers run business outside the market obstructing roads

building, but no action has yet been taken.

They pointed out that the side drains were filled with stagnant waste water with a nauseating smell, creating a serious health hazard. Fishermen said they were compelled to run business by the roadside due to the dilapidated condition of the fish stalls.

A trader Piyasena Vitharana (45) said the roads running through the market were congested with pavement hawkers running business and it was with great difficulty that vehicles transporting goods to the groceries and shops enter the market.

“The public market is an eyesore in the town. All petty traders including fish and vegetable sellers run business outside the market obstructing roads. The broken down drainage system does not allow the free flow of storm water and waste water. The road linking the old Galle road and the centre road is the worst. The road is congested with traders running business on the edge of the road and the side drain is filled with waste water and garbage that had not been cleansed for months,” he said.

The traders and the residents of the area requested the Urban Development Authority and the members elected to the UC at the recent local government election, to give priority to the proposed market building as an urgent need of the hour.