AN EYESORE TO THE PUBLIC AND A PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE

Panadura Public Market

Panadura public market has turned into an eyesore with dilapidated buildings and broken down water drains. Residents of the area said the government had proposed to construct a new market complex but evidently it had been brushed under the carpet.

Residents of the area and the traders expressed concern about the dilapidated condition of the present market building. They said the engineers had condemned the dilapidated market building as unfit for use. Traders said several areas in the building complex were endangered with collapse. They accused the authorities of ignoring the sad state of the Public market in Panadura used by a large population including traders and customers from several areas including Bandaragama, Moratuwa, Wadduwa and Horana.

The traders in the Public market pointed out that the old market on the verge of collapse should have been demolished long ago and a new market building constructed with modern facilities in keeping with the increasing demand for this main market town in the Kalutara district.

“The drains with stagnant water have turned into mosquito breeding grounds and a loathsome sight. During heavy rain a vast area of the ground goes underwater creating hardship to the traders and the customers as well. The broken down drains obstructed with garbage would not allow the free flow of storm water and waste water,” he said.

A petty trader running business by the roadside Wimalsiri Thabrew (48) said hundreds of petty traders had been compelled to run business by the roadside for want of market stalls. “The Urban Council and the Police recently destroyed temporary stalls and prohibited any business by the roadside. If a well developed market building is available with stalls for us we would not face any predicament,” he said.

A resident of the area Sucharitharatne Hettiarachchi (50) said several fish sellers were running business by the roadside much to the annoyance of the public and that it could be avoided only by providing a well developed market complex .

“The Urban Council should provide them alternative accommodation to run business or else they would lose their livelihood. They pointed out that the authorities should prevent unauthorized stalls by the roadside and provide them accommodation. At present hundreds of traders including fish sellers and vegetable sellers are running business along the centre road in the market, causing obstruction to vehicles,” he said.

Several fish sellers were running business by the roadside much to the annoyance of the public and it could be avoided only by providing a well developed market complex