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Public banished from parking spaces to protect VIPs
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Galle Face has been completely closed off as a no parking zone. Pix by Sameera Weerasekera
Despite claims of Colombo returning to normalcy following the Easter Sunday bloodbath, the police have shut out people from parking spaces in several areas including around Galle Face.
Parking on the Galle Road near the Galle Face green is prohibited mainly because of VIPs.
Some 200 small businesses have been badly affected, says E.C. Dias, secretary of the Galle Face Trade Organisation.
“The authorities should open up the parking spaces, or provide monthly compensation for the 3,000 families who depend on the income from business,’’ he said.
Galle Face: Small businesses badly hit
A City Traffic Police officer said parking spaces have been made available in a manner that does not pose a threat to schools, religious places, and embassies.
“But Galle Face has been completely closed off as a no parking zone because it is a road that the VIPs take.’’
He said that as part of security arrangements, a database of all rental vehicles and three-wheelers has been set up.
All food trucks too have been directed on to new roads, and grounds near schools have been designated for school vans.
Pavement vendors have also been banned for security reasons.
