By Gamini Abeywardane
The decision
of Colombo Mayor AJM Muzammil to
allow pavement hawkers back in the city has sparked a wave of protest from some
opposition politicians. Deputy Minister Thilanga Sumathipala, Western Province
Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa are among those who have publicly opposed this move.
Menace of hawkers
and street sellers invading the pavement and blocking the passage of
pedestrians was a burning issue in the city. Many Colombo based politicians in
the past encouraged these hawkers in return for their vote and political ground
support although they knew illegal occupation of pavements was causing
embarrassment to general public.
Politicians who were responsible for urban
development have on several occasions tried to sort out this problem but were
not successful amidst opposition from city politicians who backed the hawkers
and such illegal occupiers. Present foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera when
he was the Minister of Urban Development tried his best to clear the city of
unauthorized occupiers but as a politician he too had limitations.
The only
person who managed to do this effectively was former defence secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. He succeeded because as a powerful official he did not
care much about the political consequences. He also enjoyed the backing of his
presidential brother to do all these things. He could be effective because politics
did not come into whatever that came under his purview.
Politicians
could not interfere with Gotabhaya and he had the liberty to conduct his
affairs the way he believed to be right. It was the same way that he conducted
the war against terrorism and that is one of the reasons why it succeeded.
Thanks to him, people can move about in the city either on foot or by vehicle
without the unruly hawkers obstructing their passage.
This
sinister move by the Mayor to allow hawkers back in the city for his personal political
advantage should be deplored by all. He has no moral or legal right to reverse
something that has been painstakingly achieved for the benefit of the majority
of the road users.
The argument
that his suggestion is a temporary measure to allow street traders in the
Ramadan season only in some places in Fort and Pettah is not acceptable. If he
allows this in some areas then the pressure will come later to open other areas
as well. Why only in Ramadan season,
there can be similar requests to allow street sales in Christmas season. Then
comes Avurudu and Wesak too.
If the
country is to move forward, city administration has to be professional and up
to the international standards. We can achieve that only by depoliticizing the
city administration and not by allowing political considerations to take
priority in running the city.
The idea
behind the recently passed nineteenth amendment to the constitution was to
depoliticize the vital areas of government by introducing a number of
independent commissions. Mr. Mayor, I am sure
you are aware that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is the leader
of your party played a vital role to take politics out of these areas, firstly
though the 13th amendment and later through the 19th
amendment to the constitution.
Your effort to re-politicize the city
administration certainly goes against that policy. You are only helping some opposition
politicians by providing them with a grand opportunity to raise their voice at
a time they had lost their voice.
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