By Granville Perera –
The announcement by Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil that he is going to open the city’s pavement for hawkers again is mind chilling and is the worst piece of information the Colombo city dwellers have heard in over a decade. Muzammil has already unleashed the dreaded beggar menace and all he needs is to give the pavement to his cronies for the city dwellers to perform trapeze acts on the city roads. The peaceful strolls of window shoppers in the city would only be a dream. No pedestrian would be able to walk peacefully on the pavements that have been beautifully developed by the Urban Development Authority. Muzammil, who is trying to gain cheap popularity and a few votes for his wife at the forthcoming general election, is sadly mistaken. The UNP, which has promised her nomination, will have to review that pledge, or else the UNP will face the most humiliating defeat ever in the city of Colombo. Ranil Wickremesinghe is no fool to take this suicidal route and hope that good sense would prevail. Can the UNP claim any worthwhile developmental achievements under Muzammil’s tenure as mayor? The UNP should shove this wheeler-dealer family out of UNP politics, forever.
When Gotabaya Rajapaksa was in power, Muzammil was flirting with him and Ranil’s United National Party (UNP) could have lost the city of Colombo. His threats and intimidation probably forced Ranil to consider nominations for Muzammil’s wife on the UNP ticket in Colombo. What are her qualifications to demand nominations from Colombo when there are hundreds of other more eligible candidates for that slot? Muzammil wants to continue plundering the city as Mayor and his wife to be elected to parliament, so that one-day when he is thrown out as the city father, he could attempt at a seat in Diyawanna. For his unprincipled and sloddy rhetoric, he should be thrown to the crocs at Diyawanna oya. May the gods protect the city of Colombo from another term for Muzammil?
The city of Colombo was transformed from being one of the dirtiest to the fastest growing in the world as per a ranking undertaken by a MasterCard study. This is a remarkable achievement indeed for a nation that was emerging out of a protracted civil war. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at the end of the war, mobilized the excess manpower within the armed forces towards development and beautification of the city. Ancient building that were abandoned were restored to pristine conditions. The restoration of dilapidated buildings undertaken by the Urban Development Authority are world class and cannot be disputed. This success of the beautification programme was undertaken under the able leadership Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a task master par excellence. The resources for the beautification programme, I believe came mainly from the flood control programme for the city, and today we are spared the option of swimming to work in most parts of the Colombo due to the excellent work done by the Urban Development Authority. The parliament drive and the Diyawanna lake development projects, the waters edge and athidya walkways etc. propelled us on par with any other beautiful city in the world. Our neighbours in the region envied our remarkable post war achievements. The magnificent walkways and recreation facilities at independence sqare are world class. All these were undertaken by servicemen who would have otherwise been confined to barracks, and their imagination could have run riot and their guns pointed at the government, leading to a possible military coup that would have driven us back to the gun culture. If one studies the demobilization of troops in countries where they have had long drawn conflicts, it has been very unpleasant and Sri Lanka should be proud of its achievement.
Countries like Nicaragua, Mozambique, and closer to home, Cambodia experienced turmoil after prolonged civil wars. The soldiers, especially the disabled turned their guns at civilians and intimidated them in to doling out huge amounts as ransom. Their arguments have always been that they sacrificed their lives for people to live in peace and it was the people’s turn to look after them. Gun trotting ex soldiers were a common sight in these countries. Gotabaya foresaw this and turned their energy in to a constructive force in support of development.
Of course Gotabaya Rajapaksa is no clean angel. His vengeance and hate of Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka saw the war winning General in prison. He has also been accused of the white van carnage, massive corruption, promoting hate towards minorities, mass murder of civilians at the end of the war, the floating armoury scandal, corruption and intimidation of opponents. However, after 150 days of good governance, he has not been charged and if the government doesn’t have sufficient evidence, he should be cleared. If he is not guilty of the crimes rumored, he should be asked to come back as Mayor of Colombo, and my vote is for him.
Gratiaen. / June 23, 2015
I appreciate the facts in this article by Mr.G.P They are very facts and of course Mr.Gotabaya Rajapakse has done a marvelous job.If some nitwit is trying to pollute that beautiful environment by taking myopic nasty decisions for Political gains, we strongly reject & condemn it. The relevant authorities should take necessary action to prevent such.Finally I would say that I am also there with you Mr.Granvil,to the suggestion of yours at the last sentence of the last para of your article.
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Native Vedda / June 23, 2015
Granville Perera
“The announcement by Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil that he is going to open the city’s payment for hawkers again is mind chilling and is the worst piece of information the Colombo city dwellers have heard in over a decade”
This city belongs to the people who are part and partial of the landscape and history. Without their contribution the city would not have been built and they have the right to be there as long as they obey the local laws and customs.
“The peaceful strolls of window shoppers in the city would only be a dream.”
The land is not a playground exclusively for the rich and without the payment traders the city resembles a cemetery. A city needs to be vibrant and the payment traders bring colour and noise to liven up the atmosphere.
If window shoppers are annoyed by the buzz of the traders then they should migrate to cities where lifeless malls are the only buildings where people get excited about.
Every street trader has the right to eke out a living close to his/her home.
Brick and mortar do not make a city lively. The people, street traders, temples, Viharas, Churches, Mosques, restaurants, schools, small shops, performers, artists, musicians …. make a city/town vibrant and lively.
One should learn to live with hustle and bustle of the city, else they are free to make their own arrangement go back to their villages where they can have peaceful stroll.
If the rich and the middle class want a place where they want to peacefully stroll and window shop let them build a gated city somewhere away from Colombo and live there an exclusive life.
The payment traders have been part of the city life, and work and earn a living therefore there livelihood should not be taken away.
We want ordinary people in the city to keep it lively, vibrant, energetic, visible, ….. and not the rich morons who expect every inch of this city/land is to be cleared and prepared for their luxury stroll.
Are you with the people or with the filthy moronic rich?
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Jim softy / June 23, 2015
According to this article, Muzzamil is for himself and for his family and he can not a good governor. He is deswtroying Colombo in order to fulfill his political aspirations.
Ranil wickramsinghe also goes with that because he also just wants power.
The present govt did not find any corrupt ministers or bureaucrats yet. That means every politician is good even though they have assets that can not be gained rightfully or legally with what they earn.
Anyway, It looks likes SLFP govt is the only way and Rajpakses should come again.
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Native Vedda / June 23, 2015
Jim softy
“According to this article, Muzzamil is for himself and for his family and he can not a good governor. He is deswtroying Colombo in order to fulfill his political aspirations.”
He is following in the footstep of others before him. If you have a political point deal with him politically. If you find nepotism deal with him legally.
“Ranil wickramsinghe also goes with that because he also just wants power.”
Cleaning the city does not mean pampering the rich. Cleaning the city can be done without hurting the poor and giving undue advantage for the rich. Tell one professional politician who does not long for absolute power. Why does two time former president kick, scream, spin, and clank his old b***s from a remote village?
“Anyway, It looks likes SLFP govt is the only way and Rajpakses should come again.”
At this age I am not sure if he is able to “come” again. You should find out from his official b***s carriers.
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Jim softy / June 23, 2015
Make the colombo Mumbai, colcutta or just a back ally of Delhi and give peoples rights to make it a cargabe bin and Kakkussi.
that is also democracy.
Why don’t you try that first in your home with your children ?
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Native Vedda / June 23, 2015
Jim softy
“Make the colombo Mumbai, colcutta or just a back ally of Delhi and give peoples rights to make it a cargabe bin and Kakkussi.”
You do not need to travel that far. All you have to do is look insight your head and heart, you will see everything that you long to see in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.
“Why don’t you try that first in your home with your children ? “
I have and it works. Read the quote:
A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.
Charles W. Pickering
Jimmy
I see none of these qualities are present in you nor in people like you. That is one reason as to why democracy does not work in this island.
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Jim softy / June 24, 2015
Native Vedda:
Democrazy is just one item to be considered in the whole equation.
There are other things too.
Keep the Colombo clean, and provide one place to Street hawkers for their business.
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Native Vedda / June 24, 2015
Jim softy
“Democrazy is just one item to be considered in the whole equation.”
I am glad you have discovered this albeit at this juncture.
“Keep the Colombo clean,”
I hate to agree with you.
“and provide one place to Street hawkers for their business.”
Why cannot it be Pettah payment? What is the guarantee that another dimwit like you wouldn’t relocate the hawkers again to another place if he/she/it sees another opportunity to gain from real estate?
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lal / June 24, 2015
Shocking decision/threat by the mayor of Colombo. There should be areas allocated for hawkers and, the pavements kept clean and tidy for the use of pedestrians. There is an important message here for the population as a whole, that cleanliness is vital for good health. Sadly, there are folks who do not understand that fact and turn clean and tidy Colombo to another squalid “Little India” as they have done in parts of otherwise modern Singapore, KL and Penang with streets lined with open drains and thosai boutiques. If this mayor has a little intelligence he should build markets with sanitation, power and amenities where hawkers can carry out their business but, keep pavements clean and safe for the use of pedestrians!
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Urbanist / June 24, 2015
It is true that cities needs to be vibrant and active with all the hustle and bustle. However, as cities develop there are ways to manage this hustle and bustle and to make life convenient for pedestrians. Because, first and foremost, pavements are for pedestrians to move around the cities and not for traders to do business.
I believe you are one of those people who like to live in the old jungle where you were born and grew up without any regard for something called “development”or “evolution.” However, the world is changing and you need to understand that. Google about this!!!! There are many books and articles about walkable cities and active cities…!!! And you can still keep cities vibrant and active without the filth and inconvenience!!!
There are ways to bring and to retain that life in cities without making it filthy and inconvenient for residents. For example, cities like Singapore and Hong Kong (which had a strong culture of street vendors in the past) have managed this menace with proper regulation and introduction of solutions like hawker centers. Government regulation of these kind of activities is a must for any developing city. It is because of backward people like you who just accept the existing condition without giving any thought about alternatives and future, countries like ours are always lagging behind in the global arena.
In addition, it is not only the rich people who use the pavements to move around the city. It is actually the poor and middle class who use the pavements to move around, while rich mainly use their cars.
Lastly, Colombo is the capital of our country and it is a must that we keep it as a model city that should be followed by other cities around the country or even the region.
If you want to live in the same old jungle that you lived, please move to Tamil Nadu or even better to a place like Kampala or Kigali in Africa.
And if you want to learn more, Google or take a trip to Singapore (Very Cheap)
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lipwe / June 24, 2015
your argument is narrow and irrational. Payment is for the pedestrian. This is not an issue of beautification of city. This is an issue of law and order and safety. How contradictory your comment here with your previous ones
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lipwe / June 24, 2015
So according to you, people have a right to break law and order to make a living. The pavements in the city are narrow, uneven and water logged and if space is further reduced by hawkers this will cause serious treat to safe movement Of pedestrians. If that is part of democracy why you are so against racist rants from BBS(base on your old comments). Is it a part of democracy to express ones ideas/opinions (sane or not). you are against that not this. Hypocrisy at it best
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lipwe / June 24, 2015
My comments as the Lipwe directed to Native vedda
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ramona therese fernando / June 24, 2015
Native Vedda,
Well said! Agree with you 100%.
Hope though, the hawkers are not an ethnic-corporative aligned, or hand-in-hand with Islamic banking system aka Isis.
Pavement hawkers must become a Gosl-corporative, encouraging Sihnala-Race people also. Muslim merchants must coach the Sinhala-Buddhist (and other religion) persons to also set up shop in the Bazaar way and contribute to the county economy for all citizens.
They must pay due taxes. Night-Bazaar school also must also be started up, for young (or old) entrepreneurs to get initiated into the trade.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / June 23, 2015
Let the good he has done be not interred with his ashes! Let us also not retrace our steps backwards, from what have been positive gains of the last regime.
I was quite unhappy on reading about Muzamil’s decision. Thanks for highlighting the issue. Muzamil is apparently unable to get work done and maintain discipline without Gotabaya in power. garbage collection in Colombo is no longer regular.
We should of course hold Gotabaya to account where he has broken the law and exceeded his writ. MR is to be blamed for giving a public servant, though a brother, the authority not given to even a senior minister.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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modeya / June 23, 2015
This cassino[Edited out]
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Adrian / June 23, 2015
He cannot hide the fact that he is a Kaka (Crow). They like to live in garbage.
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Native Vedda / June 24, 2015
Adrian
“He cannot hide the fact that he is a Kaka (Crow).”
What are you blabbering about?
They like to live in garbage.
Whom are you referring to and why?
Are you from a vulture caste?
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Sumathy / June 23, 2015
What’s wrong with pavement hawkers? Gota’s programme of city beautification was transforming Colombo into a place only for the rich. I am happy to see pavement hawkers back. Cities are for ordinary people.
this is why, Pettah is the one of the few places, and the nooks and corners of Fort and Slave Island, are the places that are continuing to be multi cultural and lively. These places are for ordinary people.
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upul jayasooriya / June 24, 2015
Sumathy, I am sure you enjoy being “jacked up” by the crowds on the streets. There are enough gigolos outside for you to get that pleasure. Let the payments remain for the use of pedestrians as they are meant to be.
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Native Vedda / June 24, 2015
upul jayasooriya
“Sumathy, I am sure you enjoy being “jacked up” by the crowds on the streets.”
It is not Sumathy’s problem. It is a problem associated with those who believe their “willy must work faster than their brain” If Sumathy enjoys jacking up from behind so be it. However you must have had enough experience and joy out of it in the past and longing to have in the future, of course your willy is in good order.
Will you now propose to ban Vesak celebration, Anthony Festival, Perehera, Vel chariot festival, numerous Hindu festivals in order to save bums of unknown women?
No need to ban these crowd gathering events, as long as you learn to control yourself. You should realise women know how to deal with perverts and they haven’t appointed you as their bum guard.
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kumudu / June 24, 2015
Agree. Just organise the pavement hawkers in a manner that they would not be a nuisance to the public who walk on the pavements. Don’t take the pavement hawkers away from where there is business for them.
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kumudu / June 23, 2015
Beggars in a city are only a manifestation of its social and economic conditions. No civilized human society forcibly removes its beggars. Gota just did that and Maithripala regime should not allow that to happen again.
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Sumeda Ratnayake / June 24, 2015
Sumudu, why don/t you pick up a few of these beggers and keep them in your home. That will solve the menace. You are probably not aware, globally, begging is a mafia operation just like the drug trade. Just google some of the research done on this menace. New borns are mutilated for begging. Beggar lords operate every where ad the entire days collections are handed over to them and they are given back a pittance. Anyone disobeying will not have the space to beg. That is reality.
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kumudu / June 24, 2015
I believe when you call me Sumudu it is me you are addressing. Hence this response.
I don’t know how to respond to your first comment. Hence I leave it at that.
As for your second comment: if there are mafia groups running begging operations they should be prosecuted. But all beggars all over the world are not run by mafia groups.
A humane society should have a space for genuine beggars. The state can take measures to prevent them creating a nuisance to the public.
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whywhy / June 24, 2015
True but what’s also true is that unorganized,
helpless men women and children are begging
everywhere and not only in cities. And the
other thing is, city beautification is a process
and part of prosperity of a city and its dwellers.
Forced beautification is not real. It is only
natural that all peoples love beauty and cleanliness
and nobody can ignore it but still, if our people
can not afford such beauty with their own wealth
and if that beauty takes preference over the lives
of the very inhabitants of that city, what kind of
beauty is that ? Just two months ago one lady got
a heart attack and was rushed to a Colombo, state
run hospital. She spent six days in the hospital and
was sent home without the heart fully treated, not
even the standard angiography done at least to plan
the next step ! The patient couldn’t move around for
two minutes without pain after the discharge ! Such
is the condition of our public health security in our
capital. A life threatening patient rushed in just
to return out of danger but not recovery .The patient
was immediately taken to private treatment by her
family members for further treatment. My question is
very clear . We just can not afford to treat our
most needy patients to their full recovery from their
life threatening disease immediately but we have
resources to build and maintain our roads, pavements
and other construction works in priority ? Inside
the house, screaming and outside partying ? Stop
“SHOWOFF” you all will be genuine and fantastic !
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Pot Shot / June 23, 2015
Thankfully Mazamil, was a puppet in Gota’s hand. Gota did what he wanted and that was a good thing. If not for Gota Colombo would not be the city it is today. The UNP has too much on its hand and don’t have the understanding where public sentiments are eroding in the new government. Constitutional amendments and corruption investigations are all as important as a clean and organised city. A clean and organised city is a physical representation that a government is in charge. The UNP is clearly not in charge here and the people are sensing it.
I don’t want MR or Gota back and I want a strong UNP government with MS as head but RW has to get his act bloody act together and walk the talk.
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Dias / June 24, 2015
Well Said……And I agree Wholeheartedly……The only person seemingly doing a good job is Mangala.
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Gamaya Yapalanan / June 27, 2015
Di-ass
Sure!!!!!!!!! Butchha is looking after young fellow in this country. Go and join him in his club.
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dabarahena / June 24, 2015
Gotas and RP’s….What the heck? Isn’t anyone understanding that development has to happen with time? Are they the only reason for the so called development that took place in Srilanka during the past…. or is it the TIME that moved us into better looking? Cavemen evolved into cultured dwellers with the TIME….not the politicians…and if veddas can still exist in our country, why cant a few pavement hawkers exist?
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Peace Lover / June 23, 2015
No K A Sumaanasekera will be happy as his Dalit brothers will be able to hawk their goodies on the pavement for the majority inhabitants to buy
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Sivarasa / June 23, 2015
Correct the spelling of “pavements”, not payments.
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tinpotjihadi / June 23, 2015
Now now now. Aney this article is6 anti Muslim. Forget mass murder, mass graves, tyre pyre funerals if 1987 to 1989. Everything is Gota’s fault. This article is clearly intending to be anti Muslim. They were badly affected by the cleaning up of pavement hawkers. They’re nice people, they never harass female shoppers or cast lewd remarks as sinhala women walked by wearing skirts or jeans. They didn’t say anything vulgar. All His Worship Muzzamil is doing is taking the country back and giving it to decent people. He’s freeing the slaves like Moses. We need more Muzzamils and fewer Gotas. Clean living is not natural. Please stop anti innocent, anti Muslim attacks. Person has a right to even slaughter animals in their backyard even if the entire neighborhood reeks and becomes dirty. Clean streets don’t mean clean minds m this is BBS racism towards Muzzamils of Sri Lanka.
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Rajash / June 23, 2015
I miss the pavement hawakers when I visited Colombo couple of months agao.
They are the heart and soul of the city and hey add colour and vibrancy.
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Jim softy / June 23, 2015
Why don’t you provide a homeland in JAffanisthan.
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Rajash / June 24, 2015
“Why don’t you provide a homeland in JAffanisthan”
Gota chased them away and provided homeland in the sewage. The other were murdered by smashing their head with heavy stones. All this so that you can enjoy the beautifed Colombo.
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Native Vedda / June 23, 2015
Rajash
Find some old photos:
Pettah market colombo ceylon 1880
http://lankapura.com/2008/12/pettah-market-in-colombo-ceylon-c1880s/
Vegetable Stalls at Borella Marketin 1938
http://lankapura.com/2009/04/vegetable-stalls-at-
borella-market-colombo-ceylon-1938/
PEOPLE & LIFESTYLE
Lankapura Historic Images of Sri Lanka
http://lankapura.com/photo-gallery/people-and-lifestyle/
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / June 24, 2015
These idiots do not know that poors are contributing to the sri lanka’s economy more than they are.
Poor pavement hawkers also must live and they have to feed the families too.
maintaining the law and order must be done by local authorities with police, then there will no any struggles between pedestrians with pavement hawkers.
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Rajash / June 24, 2015
Brilliant web site Native. Added to my favourites.
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Native Vedda / June 24, 2015
Rajash
The website host a few old photograph of nude women.
Don’t spend rest of your life appreciating the “artistic value” of these photographs.
I do not trust old codgers.
One advice don’t get caught because your family want take it lightly.
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Rajash / June 24, 2015
Rajash “The website host a few old photograph of nude women. “
“old photohraphs of nude women” is better than
“photograph of old nude women”
will try and not get caught
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fazeel Hussain / June 24, 2015
and the dirt of the city too
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upali wijewardene / June 24, 2015
Rajesh, I miss the slums and all the shit around that too, because the life there is so violent that it is an entertainment for a few minutes. So, I want all the slums, violence and even praba’s bombs to come back. It was an exciting life when we were not sure whether our children would ever return home from school
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Rajash / June 24, 2015
yes it’s ok for you posh guys. you want your children to go to posh schools.
The children of slum dwellers don’t need education.
A well managed and balanced city should allow pavement hawking.
you can’t let the dead tiger go.
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Fahim knight / June 23, 2015
Nice comment there Native Veda
Well everyone forgets the poor ,is that not the case? these poor& their family were starving ,and honestly pettah was dead and it is living once again .
you want to the pavements to look like first Country standard , you got to eliminate poverty not the poor by hitting on their stomachs.
First you need to bring in a law that is equal to all, always the law was there to protect whoever was willing to oil the palm of the officials.
make way for these people to earn and pay back all the billions or trillions we owe the world , build the country up , put an end to racism ,but trying to trample the poor and mostly the poor of the Minority (The rich will buy their way through).. and once the country is stable and we have have Treasury well stocks ,then you can think of window shopping even in maraiay kade , and meantime let the man do his job the best he knows how and he can.
you do not have a penny to scratch the backside talking of Window shopping , the Treasury is fully bankrupt ,at-least this way you and I and our families e able to sleep in our homes ,otherwise the pavement guys will be in your homes with a knife on your throats,I would not blame them ,try staying hungry a day or starve your kind a couple of days and see if you can bear it , it is easy to talk , talk is always cheap ,one must be able to walk their talk.
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hussain sadik / June 24, 2015
Fahim, we don’t live in a jungle. Gota did not throw them off the streets. He built shopping areas for them. What this selfish politician Muzzamil is doing is to provide space for his cronies who would work to get his bitch elected, If Ranil doesnt stop this, he will know how many votes he will loose in colombo.
We do not need the dreaded Rajapaksas back, but Muszzamil is just paving the way for them to come back
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Liswom / June 23, 2015
I am a strong critique of Gota. Infamous white van culture, abduction, intimidation and harassment of jouenalists, media stations etc. are just a few of his terror activities. But even a devil has to be given its credit if it is due. Whatever said and done, one cannot take the credit away from Gota for magnificient jjob he did to beautify the City of Colombo and its suburbs. Any Sri Lankan who returned home after ten years would have marvelled at this rapid tranformation of urban development programme. He utilised the services of armed forces after the war. Independence square, town hall, victoria park, beira lake, diyawanna oya, Nawala weli park, Wellas Ganga at Bellanwila, Pettah floating market, Maradana tripoli market are just a few of the wonderful accomplishments. He even created an Environment Police to oversee the beutifully tiled pavements are kept spotlessly clean and garbages removed promptly.
But alas with his exit, Colombo city has become an eye sore again. Garbages are not removedregularly, pavements not maintained, floating market is deserted and has become a haven of prostitutes and now to rub salt to the wound, the opportunist inefficient Mayor Muzammil has allowed
the pavement hawkers causing inconvenoence to the pedestrians and pickpockets to thrive. This man who used to run with the hare and hunt with the hound should be thrown out.
the pavement hawkers to do their trade by obstructing the psserbys, and pickpockefz to thrive.
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Jim softy / June 23, 2015
According to this article, Muzzamil is for himself and for his family and he can not a good governor. He is deswtroying Colombo in order to fulfill his political aspirations.
Ranil wickramsinghe also goes with that because he also just wants power.
The present govt did not find any corrupt ministers or bureaucrats yet. That means every politician is good even though they have assets that can not be gained rightfully or legally with what they earn.
Anyway, It looks likes SLFP govt is the only way and Rajpakses should come again.
/
Jim softy / June 23, 2015
Democrazy is destroying Sri lanka.
gota should have kicked out Muzzamil and the family from the townhall.
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Lasith / June 23, 2015
One of the attributes of yahapalana is live and let live. The street hawkers come to sell in the pavement under the hot sun because they have no other alternative. Let them make a living. They have a right to exist. Let us not look down and discriminate against the poor. Stop being vein and superficial.
Sri Lanka belongs to all.
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Jim softy / June 23, 2015
How about one specific place for Street hawkers instead of making Colombo ugly.
So, it will be middle ground.
Street hawkers their place and Colombo stay need and orderly.
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Native Vedda / June 23, 2015
Jim softy
“How about one specific place for Street hawkers instead of making Colombo ugly.”
As long as people like you live or visit Colombo it will remain as ugly as you are. Here I am referring to your ugly thoughts, words and actions.
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fazeel Hussain / June 24, 2015
Jimmy, Gota and Basil provided this before they were evicted from the streets
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granville / June 24, 2015
Yes, and this is what I am trying to advocate. We really should have a decent hawker place where we could buy anything or eat anything. If you visit Malaysia, this is a very common sight and the eral bargains are always in these places. It is a place where the rich and poor shop, and I for one enjoy the food much more than star class
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Jim softy / June 24, 2015
Buddhists and Hindus think live and let live.
Muslims and Christians think that they are the only true faiths and only they must live.
That means Yahapalanaya is not long lasting.
Because their thinking will not last among muslims and Christians.
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lasitha / June 24, 2015
lasith, why dont you give your front yard for them to do business. That too probably belongs to all.
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Plato. / June 23, 2015
Lets get our fundamentals right.What is a Pavement as we know it?
This is a path along which people stroll or walk to get about from Point A to Point B.If pavements are occupied with hawkers selling their ware and this is justified to the effect that the nation should not put a brake on their Livelihood sounds rather altruistic.
Designated areas to cater to the needs of these pavement hawkers is the solution.
Muzammil as a mayor should ensure that the city does not turn out to be a blotch on the Landscape,like him.
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Heretic / June 23, 2015
”The announcement by Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil that he is going to open the city’s payment for hawkers again is mind chilling and is the worst piece of information the Colombo city dwellers have heard in over a decade.”
Is there no law,act or other regulation about this? Can a mayor make a decision that might be against existing regulation that the police and CMC should enforce? I think not. This is maybe another case of a politician taking power that he does not have. In that case where is rule of law?
I know that in rural areas blocking roads even partially is forbidden by the Pradesha Sabha Act and Police Ordinance.
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Lanka Watch / June 23, 2015
The mere mention of opening the city pavements to hawkers by the mayor
of Colombo, will drastically reduce the votes for UNP as most dwellers
of the cities in Colombo use the pavement to walk short distances and
not use buses these days due to high cost of living. The pavements are
already narrow, uneven and water logged and if space is further reduced
by hawkers the Mayor who is a UNP’er will be in for trouble and UNP in general. If the election was held in Feb/Mar, this year, UNP would have walked through but today after series of mishandling, like this one, the party support is dwindling. Hope Ranil will not support the Mayor’s wish to dirty the city of Colombo and suburbs, like the way he supported CB Governor Mahendran, who mishandled the state finance. This selfish motive by the Mayor to dirty Colombo city to get votes for his wife in Colombo district in the election alone is enough to bring back Gota into limelight and more over, the Tourists are not going to like a dirty city littered with hawker’s stuff. If UNP does not act fast in this matter, they are sure to lose votes of all class of people. Hawkers are also poor citizens of this country and they also
need to be looked after and the Mayor can allocate areas away from the highways and payments to do their small businesses.
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Native Vedda / June 24, 2015
Lanka Watch
“the Tourists are not going to like a dirty city littered with hawker’s stuff. “
If the tourists don’t want to visit this island let them stay away. They do flock to some of the countries that are not very clean either.
A country needs to be clean not because tourist want it but we are conscious about cleanliness. This island is for people who live here.
Cleanliness and hawking can go hand in hand. Hawking provides jobs which may reduce theft. It is up to the police to catch pickpockets and put them in jail. It is not a good reason to ban street traders.
I miss my thembli (coconut) drink as well.
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Lanka Watch / June 24, 2015
Native – with the micro economy we have in this country, it is
foolishness to say that we should shun tourists. You may like drinking “Thambili” on the road side, but you don’t seem to
realise that you will be blocking some body else’s way.
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hussain sadik / June 24, 2015
Why not create hawker streets so that every one can enjoy if they wants their bums squeezed by some of the perverts who visit crowded streets for this.
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whywhy / June 24, 2015
Colombo city can be fairly available to pavement traders
on a well planned order without causing much inconvenience
to public transport and pedestrians. Pettah has streets
where vehicle traffic restricted and you can allow these
poor traders to do business on a two days a week basis
on these streets. There are many other locations that got
to be prohibited in and around Colombo. It’s mainly
Colombo 1,8,10 and 11 that attract these traders since
very long,about 40-50 yrs . Time to time permanent
premises were given to them to clear the habit of crowding
the pavements causing human and vehicle traffic into
uncontrollable levels but generation to generation new
ones keep replacing the older ones. If they are all given
limited access with limited time frame on selected
locations, I think would be fair by everyone.
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Rajash / June 24, 2015
Dont blame the pavement hawkers for dirtying the city and making it ugly.
millions of rupees have been spent on beautifying colombo after kicking out the pavement hawkers.
Yes Colombo does look beautiful but where is the character? it looks bland.
Surely money could have been spent to keep the paevement hawkers and invested on modern garbage collection facilities to provide round the clock garbage collection.
Tourist want a clean city but not at the expense of the character of Colombo.
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 24, 2015
After Mahendran , Bangsa Jeyah and Allouysious even good thinking descent Elite would have second thoughts on Ranil although they love their UNP.
To top it all Ranil now has Rajitha and his mongrel pup who wants to take on Lions on their own territory.
Now Muzza Malli wants to bring Pavement Hawkers, Pick Pockets and the Beggars on to the footpaths of the Colombo Elite from postcodes 6 to 3..plus 1 , 2 and 7 as well..
Just imagine what is would do to the property values in Wellala gardens to Kollupitiya?.
We know votes are important for Ranil, when the Elite are deserting.
But this Muzza Malli is unbelievable?.
Does he want to F….Up the Elite Anglicans and the Vellalas…?..
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roy / June 24, 2015
Gota and Musa are Ambayaluwas , this is a political stunt by Gota. Very soon Gota will have the Musa tail back. Lol Lankans!
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BBS Rep / June 24, 2015
Hello Granville,
If you promote GOTA to rerun the city of Colombo, who according to your own admissions is no angel, a man who incarcerated Sarath Fonseka in appalling conditions, the very man who delivered the country from the clutches of terrorism, purely out of hate and vengeance, which goes so totally against all what Buddhism stands for, then Granville you need to visit your head again.
And then again, have you visited the much celebrated cleaned and polished Independence Squire recently. The next time you are there check out the restaurants. Check out the price of food. In one particular restaurant an egg hopper is SLR 400. Now tell me how many Sri Lankans could afford egg hoppers at this price. So for who did GOTA forcibly evict poor people, clean and polish Colombo and in the process pocket massive kickbacks. Granville, think again, poor people are also our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters as well.
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shantha kumaran / June 24, 2015
What you fail to mention is the 400 rupee Aapa comes with jackie, and your willy would be automatically turned on, so 400 is worth it.
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whywhy / June 24, 2015
Yes but Jackie won’t help you dilly dally your willy
for 400 ? Finish your Appa, pay the bill and vanish
holding your erstwhile willy in your hand !
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Justice & Fairplay / June 24, 2015
Any good from even the worst must be acknowledged. Leave aside the fear psychosis aspect, Gota will be remembered for having had the guts to do the unpopular but the right thing in ridding the city of beggers and hawkers all over the place. This move by a madman to reintroduce the hawkers is seen as an act of lunacy of the highest order; an act of a deranged man.
Recently this Muzzamil fellow went about saying it wasn’t Gota but him who made the city beautiful. Crap. He would not have the imagination to do so, and definitely not the guts required for the job.
If this was a politically expedient move it will boomerang on the UNP. Many hard line UNP followers have already told me, if this crazy move happens, their vote will be NOT for the UNP.
Gota will be remembered one day as the man who did the impossible with regard to the city. No other person was capable of doing that, for 60 years. Definitely not Muzzamil.
This will certainly damage the standing of the UNP. And Muzza will be remembered for that!
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Polished / June 24, 2015
Granville Perera,,, are you on the Rajapaksha’s payroll????
Gota for Mayor??????? you are a bloody idiot and should be sacked
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Vibhushana / June 24, 2015
Muzzamil lacks the creative flair needed by a Mayor of Colombo! He looks as if he is dozing off most of the time.
He admits he is failing due to political reasons. The only thing left after admission of failure is to step down and give it to someone else.
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Dr Dulip Perera / June 24, 2015
This Move by Mayor Muzamil is Political, and probably an unseen personal ajenda as well, thinking that his and the spouses political futures might be nurished!This move will not be a popula one ,as present Hawker less city is peaceful and mejority likes it.Bad effects of allowing Hawking once again will be felt to all in a very short time, What ever the argument to claim that ,without hawkers Colombo looks and seen as a ghost city are half throuths, and not a measure of democracy either! This decision if implimented on this Mayors Whimps will definitely have widespred negative political implications to the present Government!
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assupisela / June 24, 2015
These are the repercussions when Sinhalese beg behind Dravida and Thambi for votes they take the upper hand in our country. This is the main reason former president MR kept them in arms length. Kick out this thambi from his mayor position never appoint non Sinhalese mayor for Colombo it’s a mistake.
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fazeel Hussain / June 24, 2015
Brilliant Idea asse Pissa, that is the best thing to do, just exterminate all the Thanmbi’s. Just a minute ….. where would your women [Edited out]
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CHRIS SUBRAMANIAM / June 24, 2015
GOTA [Edited out]
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