Small time vendors' business to be formalized

Chaminda Perera

The government is in the process of formalizing the business activities carried out by small time vendors hawking in public and private transport, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

"We want to make their profession formalized to uplift their economy. The government will integrate them into the country's economic development process too," he said.

The minister was addressing the vendors hawking in public and private transport services and passenger terminals at the inauguration of a workshop organized by the Economic Development Ministry for the development of professional skills of these vendors in Colombo.

The minister said vendors hawking in public and private transport services are not seen only in Sri Lanka. They are seen in many countries such as Japan, South Korea, United States and the UK.

The vendors should offer lessons to their colleagues in other countries by behaving politely in public and private transport, he said.

Over 356 vendors participated in this workshop. They received registration, Identity Cards and a uniform.

Over 1,400 such vendors will participate in this workshop in the first phase of the programme and 1,000 more vendors are to be trained under the second phase in the future.

Over 2,500 vendors who depend on selling consumer items in buses and trains faced a crisis when hawking was banned in public transport. Over 17,500 family members lost their income avenues due to this ban.

Five thousand people who were benefited by this trade were also affected indirectly by this decision.

The programme launched by the Economic Development Ministry to make the profession of vendors hawking in public transport formalized on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has received support from Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Private Transport Services Minister C. B. Ratnayake.

Minister Rajapaksa said the vendors should be concerned about the passengers' security.

"The President intends to provide assistance to the vendors under the poverty alleviation programme of the Samurdhi Movement, if they lost their livelihood," he said.

He added that the President shows no hesitation to invest in them.

The minister also said the government has provided employment to more than 55,000 graduates. The graduates who were recruited to the State Service this year receive a monthly salary of Rs 23,000. The government is spending Rs 14 million for this purpose.

"The President took steps to revive the country' s economy which was shattered by the terrorists, after the country was liberated," he said.

Minister Rajapaksa said the President has created an environment for the people of all communities to live in peace and harmony in the country.

A number of mega development projects are in progress in the country. The Colombo South Harbour development project is progressing well providing more foreign exchange to the coffers, he added.

The minister also said star class hotels are also being built in the heart of the Colombo city to open more employment avenues to the youths.

Many mega projects including power stations, international airports and ports are being built throughout the country, he said.

The minister added that the country has a well developed road network connecting 14,000 Grama Niladhari divisions.

He said the production of farmers can easily be brought to Colombo through this road development programme. This road network consists of roads maintained by the Pradeshiya Sabhas, Provincial Councils and the Road Development Authority.

There was an era in which the country could not be self sufficient in rice for centuries. The government introduced a fertilizer subsidy while mega scale irrigation schemes are being constructed for the benefit of the farming community.

Minister Rajapaksa said the government was able to make the country self sufficient in rice.

He added that the living standards of the people are rising when the country is being developed.

Minister Rajapaksa added that the President was aware of the vendors hawking in buses and trains. He said the vendors should indulge in their business activity in a way that would not harass the consumers.

The government has implemented a mechanism to promote the income of the people and reduce the unnecessary expenditure under the direction of Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

He said the people who were addicted to drugs and heroin could save a large sum of money due to this programme.

Private Transport Services Minister C. B. Ratnayake, Economic Development Ministry Additional Secretary Shantha Bandara, Deputy Minister S. M. Chandrasena, All Island Self Employment Employers Association President Mahinda Kahadagama and Deputy Inspector of Police Anura Senanayake were present.