Sri Lanka bans pavement trade in southern towns

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 February 2008, 14:41 GMT]
The ban on pavement trade in the towns of Kurunagala, Polonnaruwa and Matale in the south to ensure security has thrown out hundreds of pavement traders out of their livelihood. The police with the assistance of local authorities concerned have removed all pavement shops, sources said.

32 pavement shops functioning for the last six years in Polonnaruwa new town were removed Friday by the police on the instruction of the local magistrate court on an application by the local authority concerned.

Pavement traders in the towns of Kurunagala and Matale have also been instructed instructions to wind up their business activities immediately.