Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil has ordered the Police Chief to allow street hawkers to return to their previous places of business.

Former Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa removed hawkers from Colombo pavements in an  attempt to beautify the city and also to reduce the hassle faced by the pedestrians.

Most of the hawkers were given alternative places to carry out their businesses.  The picture shows a street hawker in the Colombo Fort area. (Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi)