- Makes way for bus terminals, shopping complex for pavement hawkers
Plans are underway to shift the Manning Market Colombo to Peliyagoda where it will be re-established in a Rs. 1.3 billion market complex with all facilities. The Urban Development Authority (UDA) is constructing the new market in a 25 acre-block of land near the Peliyagoda wholesale fish market on the advice of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, a statement from the ministry said.
It will comprise among other facilities 100 two storeyed-wholesale vegetable stalls (each 120 square feet), 662 retail vegetable sales stalls, processing centre for vegetables and fruits for export, employees rest rooms, restaurants, service centre, parking space for 135 lorries and 200 cars.
The UDA estimated cost of the market complex is Rs. 1357 million.
At present, Manning Market is located in a three-and-a-half acre area in Colombo. Vegetables and fruits transported to the city from all parts of the island are sold to wholesale traders at this market, which was earlier situated at Kachcheri Road, Colombo. In 1983 it was shifted to the present Manning Stores which was built during the colonial era for storing sugar. Eight store rooms there were divided into small sections and given to wholesale and retail traders to be used as vegetable and meat stalls.
There are nearly 1,178 wholesale and retail stalls at Manning Market where facilities are very limited. Around 200 lorry loads arrive at the market from around 4.00 a.m. daily. Almost 50,000 people and about 1,000 vehicles arrive daily to make purchases there. In addition to nearly 2,000 labourers (‘naataamis’) working daily, about 5,000 others are also employed at the market, said Manning Market Traders Association President Lal Hettige.
After Manning Market is shifted to Peliyagoda, the present market site will be used for a building new bus terminus with all facilities and a market complex for pavement hawkers. A cabinet decision on this regard was taken in December 2011, the ministry said.
~ www.island.lk ~
