Deserted streets greet CHOGM delegates

The closure of roads in Colombo for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting including the opening ceremony at Nelum Pokuna on Friday, left the public and motorists in and around Colombo in a state of confusion.

Many public and private sector employees opted to stay away from the city leaving many roads deserted as seen in pictures captured outside the Fort Railway station at around 9.00 a.m. on Friday.

Less vehicles entered the city during the past three to four days with motorists uncertain of traffic arrangements and fearing traffic snarl-ups.

In some areas of the city motorists were penalized by police for accidently travelling on roads which had been closed, while others were left confused by contradictory instructions given by police personnel who themselves appeared equally confused.

Sampath Ranasinghe, a private company executive caught up in the traffic jam said that despite the presence of a large number of policemen in the city, many of them were not in a position to give directions as they appeared to be from the outstations.

Confusion reigned supreme when buses were suddenly re-routed by police during the one-hour period when particular roads were closed. A classic example was when buses plying to Town Hall were suddenly diverted in another direction without prior warning. While unsuspecting passengers waited patiently at the normal bus halts, police diverted buses along alternate routes.

The chaotic arrangements also resulted in only a handful of people turning up to witness the arrival of Heads-of-States or their country representatives at the opening ceremony at 'Nelum Pokuna'.

This raises the question as to whether the summit could have been a 'people friendly' event.