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The end of an era
View(s):Story and pix by Amila Prabhoda
As the Hamilton Canal development project nears completion a boat service which operated across the canal over the generations will come to end. But hundreds of families in the area stand to benefit.
The late Marcus Antony -the last of the well-known ferrymen
Developing the Hamilton Canal, Negombo was initiated under the Economic Development Ministry’s Tourism Resources Development Programme and covers a distance of 22 kilometres from Ma Oya, in Puttlam to the mouth of the Kelani River in Gampaha district.
The ferry service up to this time served hundreds of people living just across the city limits of Colombo daily. Sited close to the Mattakkuliya-bridge across the Kelaniya river where the Hamilton Canal originates, the ferry gave a scenic beauty to the area over the years.
Nearly three generations of ferrymen were involved in the boat services which earlier also operated across the Kelaniya River. After the main bridge came up the services were stopped. However the boat service across the canal continued.
Mary Magalin believes that residents would still prefer to use this novel means of transport
Today two families live off the meager earnings from this boat. Mary Magalin the wife of the well-known boatman Marcus Antony from Elakatawatte, Hendala who used to operate the boat service died several years ago. His family operated the ferry service for several generations.
“This boat ride has been there since my husband’s grandfather’s time. Even today a lot of residents prefer the boat ride. I hope authorities will make sure our traditional mode of transport is preserved,” she said.
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