No shifting Manning Market to Peliyagoda on Monday: Traders

All Island Unified Economic Centres and Manning Market Traders Union (AIUECMMTU) today said they have decided not to move into the new Manning Market complex at Peliyagoda which will commence its operations from next Monday.

AIUECMMTU National Organiser H.M. Upasena told the Daily Mirror that they would not move into the new location due to inadequate space in the new outlets to continue with the business activities.

"The Government promised to allocate an outlet with 12 x 13 feet floor area, but the length was narrowed to 6 x 13 feet, which is certainly not enough even to store their goods," he said.

Therefore, we have decided to stage a fast unto death protest today opposite the Fort Railway Station, he said.

"The Government misleads us. Now we have no place to have our shops," he said. 

However, the trade union had taken a collective decision not to move to the new Manning Market complex in Peliyagoda until the promised outlets with adequate space are given, Mr. Upasena added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)