(UTV | COLOMBO) – The Colombo Pettah Floating Market will be re-opened to the public today (07) at 6.00 PM after a complete renovation on the instructions of Prime Minister and Urban Development and Housing Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Issuing a media release, the Urban Development and Housing Ministry stated that the floating market had deteriorated with decaying planks, improper operation of the lighting system, unsafe conditions, unsanitary environment, foul smell and illegal and undisciplined activities.
Under these circumstances, it was decided to redevelop the floating market under a new project concept of the President and the Prime Minister, and this was done under two basic conditions.
More than 80 percent of the shops in the Fort Floating Market have remained closed for the past four and a half years due to improper maintenance.
The Floating Market was opened in August 2014 as a concept initiated by the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.