Small time vendors to receive more benefits

The Government is in the process of formalising the business activities carried out by small time vendors hawking in public and private transport. “We want to make their profession formal with a view of uplifting the economy,” said Minister Basil Rajapaksa. He added that the Government will integrate them into the country’s economic development process as well.

He said that vendors hawking in public and private transport services are not limited to Sri Lanka but are seen in many countries such as Japan, South Korea, United States and the UK.

Vendors hawking in public transport should offer lessons to their colleagues in other countries by behaving politely on modes of public and private transport.

Minister Rajapaksa was addressing this issue at the inauguration of a workshop organised for the development of professional skills of these vendors in Colombo.

Over 356 vendors hawking in public transport participated in this workshop before they received registration, identity cards and a uniform.

Over 1,400 such vendors will participate in similar workshops in the first phase of the program and 1,000 more vendors are to be trained under the second phase in the future. More than 2,500 vendors who depended on selling consumer items and food items on busses and trains faced a crisis when hawking was banned in public transport.  Over 17,500 of persons, including their families, lost their direct income avenues due to this ban. 5,000 people who were benefited by this trade indirectly were also affected by this decision.

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

 Minister Rajapaksa said the President intends to provide assistance to the vendors hawking in railway stations and buses under the poverty alleviation program of the Samurdhi Movement if they lost their livelihood, he said.

He added that the President shows no hesitation in making investments for the productive purpose.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa stated that 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 and the Government is spending Rs. 14,000 million on this purpose alone. The President took steps to revive the country’s economy which was shattered by the imperialists, after the country was liberated from the clutches of terrorists, he said. Minister Rajapaksa said that 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, he added.

The Minister also said that star class hotels are being built in the heart of Colombo city to create more employment avenues for the youth.

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 that the produce of farmers can easily be brought to Colombo through this road development program. 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 make the country self sufficient in rice for centuries. The Government introduced fertiliser subsidies while mega scale irrigation schemes are now being constructed for the benefit of farming community. Minister said that the Government was able to make the country self sufficient in rice. He added that the living standards of the people are going up as the country is being developed.

Minister Rajapaksa added that the President was aware of the vendors hawking on buses and trains. He said that 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 unnecessary expenditure under the direction of Defence Minister Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.He said that the people who were addicted to drugs and heroin could save a large sum of money due to this program.