The street food stall owners on the Kotte-Thalawathugoda Road in Kimbulawala have alleged that Minister Bandula Gunawardana and SLPP MP Madhura Withanage are planning to remove their stalls.

It was said that these vendors are being removed since they are outsiders.

There are about 24 shops at the location and earlier there were 34.

It was said that most of the vendors have arrived at the location from other areas.

The street food stall owners have also formed an association and they have held a discussion with the President last week.

They have been given permission to operate mobile shops at the location and trade only at night.

Accordingly, the Road Development Authority (RDA) has already notified them to remove the permanent stalls within another 10 days.

The shop owners have been told to inform the RDA if they have any alternative proposals by tomorrow (13).

When Sri Lanka Mirror asked Street Food Shop Owners Association President Sisira Dissanayake in this regard, he said that they had previously requested a part of ‘Ape Gama’ premises as an alternative place to conduct their businesses.

At first they were given approval, but then it had been withdrawn citing security threats to Parliament.

However, at the ruling party meeting held last week, MP Madhura Withanage has said allowing shops to be operated besides the road would lead to a bigger issue.

“These should be removed. They are acquiring lands after arriving at the location in lorries and buses. This is like a mafia,” he said.

Meanwhile, minister in charge of the subject, Bandula Gunawardana, has also clarified the facts that there is no legal possibility to maintain these shops.