News
Residents bemoan Borella’s descent into decay
Borella is in a sorry state. It has no wet market and the one built several decades ago is dysfunctional except for a few tailoring shops, communications outlets and the like. Not to forget the suspected nefarious activities.
Sorry state of the Borella market. Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
The only ones doing brisk business are the butchers.
Long time Borella residents know the supermarket built decades ago at a high cost is a colossal disaster.
It is time that presidential sight is set on this white elephant to transform it into a viable, productive venture.
The structure is poorly-ventilated, and dark, ghostly areas intercept large spaces.
Renovations could be costly to the state.
For residents, the only other choice is what is referred to as the ‘kaley’ market down Danister de Silva Mawatha, formerly Baseline road. Not too far from the Borella junction, it is also a veritable hell hole.
Overflowing sewers assault the senses, drug addicts treat passers by to heroin odors and ganja smoke, and the stalls stink.
Substandard vegetables and grocery items are on sale at unaffordable prices.
There is just one grocery shop.
Residents also have to contend with substandard eateries. Endless visits by public health inspectors have failed to reform their owners. Spot fines are paid and the eateries continue, as usual.
Borella’s eateries can be counted unlike in the suburbs where such establishments are found every two feet away _ the reason being that the Urban Development Authority owns much of the land in the junction.
The few private enterprises do brisk business putting public health at risk.
Only recently apparel malls have come in. But that wouldn’t suffice. There’s so much to be done to make Borella a livable town.