A market with no takers

The weekly Karuwalagaswewa market, which was built nine years ago, has been abandoned, residents said.

The market’s construction began under the “Mahinda Chinthana” concept during the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa and was completed during the Yahapalana government during the presidency of Maithripala Sirisena. The construction cost under the Province Specific Development Grant, had been 10 million rupees.

A resident and former Grama Niladhari O A Sunil said “Building weekly markets, shops and playgrounds is good, but officials need to maintain such public property which has not been done.” “A large amount of people’s money was used to fund the establishment. There was a volleyball court built recently, but there is no income. The ultimate price is paid by the citizens of the country” he said, requesting officials to use the establishment for a public activity of some sort.

Secretary of the Karuwalagaswewa Pradeshiya Sabha Jagath Kumara said "The weekly market was built without conducting a feasibility study at an unsuitable location. This was revealed during our attempts to conduct a weekly market or economic centre.” “The best location for the market would have been the building near the Karuwalagaswewa

Police which was intended to be a market earlier,” he said highlighting that the establishment of this building could have been prevented.

Mr Kumara said that prior to the establishment being built, a small market was already in action. “With the establishment of the new one, the old deteriorated as sellers abandoned the location, leaving for different locations to sell their goods” he said.

“I attempted to persuade some of the sellers in Puttalam and Rajanganaya areas promising them a compensation for two months, but they turned me down,” he said, explaining that they then attempted to use the building for tuition classes, which again, failed. “Water and electricity have been disconnected too,” he added.