Colombo city dormant after 10.00 pm; Nothing to entertain people: Dayana Gamage

14 September 2022 08:48 am - 70 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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There is no entertainment activities in Colombo City after 10.00 pm and the city becomes dormant, Tourism State Minister Diana Gamage said.

Addressing the media yesterday, she said most people come to cities for dining and to spend time at the pubs. But here in Colombo City, the situation is entirely different. People don't have a nightlife here. All the shops and entertainment providers pull their shutters down after 10.00 pm.

Therefore, we are hoping to develop the night economy in the country. Opportunities should be given to bring people to Colombo for entertainment purposes, as there is nothing in Colombo city which becomes dormant after 10.00 in the night.

If the country does not get dollars, no parliamentarians can make domestic gas neither fuel in their home backyards. We can convert the island of Mannar into predominantly an entertainment zone with all transactions are carried out in dollars.

"OlWhen we were small kids, our elders used to scare us saying that they would send us to Mannar to engage us in dry fish trade, but Mannar is an ideal island to establish an entertainment park, other than producing dry fish. We can do many things in the country to bring dollars; all we need is productive ideas," the State Minister Gamage said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 70

ANTON Wednesday, 14 September 2022 08:56 AM

WHY NOT OPEN SOME SPA CENTERS.

Ravi Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:07 AM

So why don't bring some Thai girls and open up red light areas.

joshua Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:18 AM

you are talking of nightlife when people have no money or the money they have no value thanks to you politicians who ruined this country. BTW you must be happy that your pole vault has brought you a rich harvest

Mohan Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:21 AM

People don't need a night life. Night time is there to sleep well and refresh. It is a bad habit to stay awake at night, partying, and then struggle at work next day. If we want to stabilize the economy, we need to increase local production of items we normally import. For example we can cultivate Indian grape varieties here as a replacement for imported grapes.

Sri Lankan Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:22 AM

you dance with the tourists, supplying ganja. We like to sleep in peace.

Wixie Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:27 AM

At last someone who sees the need to get out of Medevial Isolation, Night Economies saw Singapore emeghingfrothe Third World to the First, we arein a World of Our own .Malaysia inthie Growth period adopted Dollars to be in the correct Mindset , were determined to follow Singapore, we are only following our own tail

Seqi Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:36 AM

Leave the dry fish alone. It's all that people have got for protein and calcium....

Honda Kollek. Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:38 AM

Go to hell Dayana.There is entertainment during the day as well as the night. Count how many rooms are rented out by the hour.

Don Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:45 AM

Who opened the gates at Angoda?

Citizen k Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:47 AM

Even now you should be sent to Mannar for your thoughtless comment. As Colombo has all infrastructure why don't you develop it first.Mannar would need an airport and all other infrastructure facilities .When there is sufficient money in the treasury you can think about Mannar.

Aussie Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:50 AM

Open a few quality pubs with draught beer available (chilled though not cool like some restaurants offer). Quality of the product and the venue is important. Quality is the key any entertainment not just earning a fast buck! Monks keep out of development, having a beer is not a hanging offence or we will be like frogs in a pit!

Don Munasinghe Wednesday, 14 September 2022 09:58 AM

It is true..we need more night life in Colombo to generate more jobs..however, our "LINDE INNA GEMMBO SET EKA" will not allow to anything as such...

BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 14 September 2022 10:15 AM

You can improve it by walking around Colombo with similar friends like you after 10pm in some skimpy dress. Carry a few condoms also.

Lumbini Wednesday, 14 September 2022 10:24 AM

Why not offer free prostitutes?

Cugan Wednesday, 14 September 2022 10:26 AM

This woman wants to cultivate ganja,then prostitution

Jehan Wednesday, 14 September 2022 10:33 AM

Prostitution like Thailand, take it as an archievment.Thailand men don’t have a problem of their women going out with other men, as long as they don’t get emotionally involved. ….

Reza Wednesday, 14 September 2022 10:33 AM

Each country has a culture and ours is 2600 years and tourist Respect that. You don’t need to make Colombo a Bangkok or Amsterdam with weed to get tourists. Focus on ease of travel, safety, marketing the natural beauty, any climate in 3 hours, of Sri Lanka to get the tourists.

BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 14 September 2022 11:46 AM

What bullshit culture do we have? After 2600y we have population of 69% idiots who are racist to the core and will elect any crook who can sing a racist baila. Then we have leaders who will sell their mothers for a price (H'tota sovereignty for 99y sold to China). Then we have a new generation of youth who are only fit to drive 3-wheelers.

TS Wednesday, 14 September 2022 10:53 AM

You are correct Di. Do something to make it happen. You don't need to reinvent any thing. Follow the examples in countries where tourism florish.

Iwazaru Wednesday, 14 September 2022 11:09 AM

Idiot, this is a bankrupt country and only the looters are out after dark.

DON Wednesday, 14 September 2022 11:11 AM

Great idea madam. Please implement soon such wonderful ideas into action.

Ranjith Wednesday, 14 September 2022 11:14 AM

You are coming up with rotten ideas people better go early to sleep in the night to forget all the problems they are facing during day time srilanka is not a country to live anymore other than to the politicians do people have money

roni Wednesday, 14 September 2022 11:23 AM

They are busy tending to their canabis plantations

Sunil Wednesday, 14 September 2022 11:45 AM

We will never allow anybody to interfere with the sacred sancity where two holy places for 2 major religions are located. Mr President please ensure your state ministers have good visionary and analytical skills before they speak to media.

Dee Wednesday, 14 September 2022 11:57 AM

You should take the initiative and legalise prostituting. Then we can attract all the Thai bound tourism. (Provided we have the talent)

Wonderful woman Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:02 PM

Dayana are you living in Srilanka? When people are starving you are worried over the night entrainment for the tourists. Only entrainment tourists had was Aragallya at Galle Face. But your govt has curtailed the Aragallya under PTA and started to arrest protesters.

Mohammed Ameen Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:11 PM

Why don't you set an example by being topless on the roadside in the nights like in other Western countries and also promote Cannabis at the same time.

Bernard Jayatilake Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:11 PM

There are clandestine operations taking place in the Colombo city after 10 p.m. like prostitutes and underworld and you are free to enhance those activities if you wish.

Randika Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:14 PM

It is good idea you do your best madam , we need more night life in Colombo we can make more job , all people like night life but this country cant happening in night

Andare Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:14 PM

For night life, there is no need to import women from Ukraine or Kazaghastan, there are enough and more here.

Mark Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:21 PM

With playboy Harin Fernando as Minister and Diana Gamage promoting cannabis - what a super combination for tourism.

Abe Joseph Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:33 PM

Well, it a good idea to bring night life to Colombo like Singapore and Bangkok as it will bring foreigners and dollars in to the country. We should change our country's lifestyle to come out from this economy crises.

Nandasena R Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:33 PM

One is made to wonder which planet this women lives? When common man is struggling to have one square meal a day this women is talking of having a nightlife? Well, she should try cabaret dancing at Galle face green and see if she can attract night life!!

Bandaramenike Wednesday, 14 September 2022 12:36 PM

Why Dayana? Are you planning on opening a strip club for you to dance on the pole? I guess danced on that pole well for MR and GR.

Lan Wednesday, 14 September 2022 01:02 PM

Do not try to destroy the beautiful culture ; tradition and religious practices of this island ..next time in the election no one will vote for you and you want to get income to this country through immoral ways ..bring back all stolen money

Kaputa Wednesday, 14 September 2022 01:03 PM

You can entertain people by distributing Ganja in streets at night !

jan Wednesday, 14 September 2022 01:04 PM

DO YOU HAVE NIGHT LIFE ,BUT FOR US ITS HARDLY TO THINK OF LIVING DAY TO DAY LIVES BUT FOR YOU POLITICIANS DEFINITELY HAVE NIGHT LIFE EVERY WHERE THEY GO UNDER STATE EXPENSES

DW Wednesday, 14 September 2022 01:14 PM

If we have a rich culture ; tradition and religious practices, why do we have to beg other countries for money??? Diana Gamage's mindset is in the real world and not in fantasy world. If we want to encourage tourists to come here, there should be things that they enjoy otherwise they will choose elsewhere.

dinesh Wednesday, 14 September 2022 01:26 PM

Foreigners will take the next flight back, when Diana undress to make dollars for the country

piumal Wednesday, 14 September 2022 01:30 PM

Make this genius the Tourism Minister

Godaya Wednesday, 14 September 2022 01:37 PM

Night time is there for people to sleep so that their brains get some rest, otherwise the brains won't work. Don't add to that burden since most politicians' brains don't function in any case.

Nihal S Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:10 PM

This women is business minded. Give a Cabinet post 'Entertainment Affairs' and it will change the country completely. Very much needed brains for our country - where were you all these years?

DJ Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:16 PM

You did not know what you were doing before, and you certainly do not know what you are doing now.

Samantha Hetti Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:26 PM

MP Dayana makes a great point about re-purposing Mannar. Thailand has certain islands which are completely and thoroughly tourist focused. Same with other country like Indonesia. Mannar is away from most populated areas. However, concern I would have is corruption of our youth if wild tourism 24 hours a day happens even in Mannar.

Lankan Girl Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:26 PM

It would be nice to have some nigh entertainment arenas, restaurants or street festivals, but if this means allowing prostitution and increasing drug availability, leave the country as it is. Already we are a nation struggling to survive, the last thing we need is nudge into worse situations.

Julius Caesar Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:47 PM

Everyone wants to commercialise Mannar for their own ends. Dayana clearly sees the opportunity to line her purse.

Revive Sri lanka Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:50 PM

Wow, finally someone has decided to open up about this. We are working in the morning until afternoon or sometimes evening, so the only time we get to spend much would be at nights. Everywhere else except sri lanka are following the night time business which really improves the financial stability of our country. I strongly support this statement since we need to somehow work together and revive our country. Let's stop blaming for everything and look what is the plus first.

Ram Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:50 PM

You can change the tune by doing a survey standing at a lonely bus stop counting the passing cars

Idiots Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:51 PM

Why not you take a lead and entertain the tourists at Galle Face along wyour friends after 10pm.

Thinker Wednesday, 14 September 2022 02:55 PM

So pathetic and we have done sins to listen to these kind of cheap talks. She is not trying to do tourism instead seems like wanting to open some hardcore night clubs.

Manoj Wednesday, 14 September 2022 03:16 PM

With my age I really appreciate turning colmbo in to South Asia Sin City...Exactly...not to mention I have heard that illegalasing prostitution to Strip clubs and lap dancing said to empower women

Buddhist Wednesday, 14 September 2022 04:35 PM

Diana has a point, but first, she should find out the reason, it's because law and order and security are not strong under this government, thats the reason.

Kumari. Wednesday, 14 September 2022 05:08 PM

There is no belly- dancing in Sri Lanka. Diana might be a great attraction if she gives the lead ! There is much potential to earn Dollars.

Ceylonese Wednesday, 14 September 2022 05:19 PM

Colombo is like a sleepy ghost town after 10.00 pm because Gota the architect of the white van syndrome is back in town from his hiding place in Thailand after he himself realized his life is not safe over there and the Thai authorities couldn't guarantee his safety

rbh Wednesday, 14 September 2022 05:27 PM

How to tarvel to manner spend petrol return to stay in manner petrol shed. Imagination without wings

Jayadeva Wednesday, 14 September 2022 05:28 PM

I may not agree with Minister Diana’s political inclinations. But I agree in full with her concept to develop tourism. Yes we must diversify our tourism if we are to attract forex. We cannot limit tourist entertainment only to beaches and visiting sites of archeological value. Not only Mannar island there are many other places. Puttalam, Arugambay area are ideal for tourist zones. Then casinos etc May have to come in. Even growing Canabis for export is a good idea because they bring in Foreign currency. It can be done under strict control and stop them sold in local markets. But we face two problems; politicos and their henchmen getting in to the lucrative business of vice and maintaining law and order. Because without security no tourist will come. We will have to get out of age old traditional thinking

ACL Wednesday, 14 September 2022 07:17 PM

Another Clown. Tourism has become a pack of jokers - harin who doesn't know his a... from his elbow and now this clown. The City is dormant as people cannot afford to go out. Look at the cost of things. which planet is this woman living on. They talk for the sake of talking. Put your brain into gear before putting your mouth into motion!

Noel Samara Wednesday, 14 September 2022 08:50 PM

The icing on the cake is allowing dollars only for Mannar to be special tourist island. The prostitution in our country will probably increase such happenings. Reason why we don't have a red light district is because everything closes up by 10 pm. Thailand is still a Theravada country with massive night and partying tourism focused areas. What other real avenues does our country have compared to her suggestion?

Jamis Wednesday, 14 September 2022 10:27 PM

These comments show why Sri Lankans have a frog in the well mentality. Night life is a common feature of all great cities. Cities like NY and Tokyo never shut down. People are up in to the wee hours of the morning. You walk in Tokyo or NY City at 2am and the streets are full of people. And these are also some of the most hardworking and productive people in the world. Colombo needs to become a real city. But with people like these, what chance is there!

Colombo Club Thursday, 15 September 2022 02:20 AM

It is a very good suggestion to strengthen forex inflow into the country provided it is done appropriately. A vibrant and quality night life is key for the tourism sector to generate strong returns.

Mahila Thursday, 15 September 2022 03:31 AM

Dayana, Morning. Don't agree with your belief, that Sri Lankans become dormant after 10 PM in the night On the contrary, they are a vibrant and on the contrary an engaged actively in planning to achieving future ideals and indeed have great fun unlike some Morons, who visit Bangkok and Amsterdam!!??

Mahila Thursday, 15 September 2022 03:31 AM

Dayana, Morning. Don't agree with your belief, that Sri Lankans become dormant after 10 PM in the night On the contrary, they are a vibrant and on the contrary an engaged actively in planning to achieving future ideals and indeed have great fun unlike some Morons, who visit Bangkok and Amsterdam!!??

Moh Sleiman Thursday, 15 September 2022 07:37 AM

Diana you should get a special permit to import CANNABIS and legalise prostitution,You are the ideal moron to ruin the future generation.Ranil will be a good customer.

Rohan Winston Thursday, 15 September 2022 08:05 AM

Ha ha before the night starts you will be home. So don't worry. You political career along with many other goons is coming to an end very soon.

Nish Thursday, 15 September 2022 08:30 AM

Whilst politicians are never my favorites, I think this lady has a point as many SL cities are dead by 8pm, and utterly boring for visitors and others alike. By reading many of these comments it is evident that many people in SL still are living in stone ages. At least, Colombo needs a few pubs (not expensive) etc where people can hand out, have a beer after work etc. That is how other famous cities are. Those who have not traveled, won't understand this. Are we saying all other developed countries are in trouble as they have these facilities?. Monks and other traditionalists like to stand in the way always. If law and order is a concern, police should take care of it. Whether SL police is good is another question, and it is not related to this point. Btw, where has SL got to by always talking about culture, religion and what not?

ram Thursday, 15 September 2022 08:33 AM

Yes madam, allow to cultivate Ganja and to sell them in the country for every one. Not only the city entire country will be active all 24 hours. You are the only one in the country have the guts to bring the appropriate law to develop the country.

Terrence Thursday, 15 September 2022 09:03 AM

Politicians will be the first who will patronize as they are starved hungry animals not knowing what to do with the monies robbed from the public purse

Vipin B Thursday, 15 September 2022 10:41 AM

Lets start a night market or bazar as in the Middle East.

ganlath Thursday, 15 September 2022 10:49 AM

The only reason the city is dead after 10:00 PM is people have no money to spend. Even between 6 to 10 PM most restaurants are empty as things are not affordable. THANKS TO GOTA'S VISIONARY GOVERNANCE AND VISTAS OF PROSPERITY

Citizens Saturday, 17 September 2022 12:31 PM

Night time is meant for wine, women and song not for entertainment

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Colombo city dormant after 10.00 pm; Nothing to entertain people: Dayana Gamage

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