In the recent past, selling various merchandise on the pavements of the area falling under the Colombo Municipal Council was banned by the Urban Development Authority.

However, it is said that during the last few days, the Colombo Mayor was repeatedly urged by the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime minister's office to overturn this ban.

Also, minister Rajitha Senaratne's son - Chathura has pushed for this after getting together street vendors to form a collective.

Under this backdrop, Mayor A.J.M. Muzzamil has notified the IGP that permission has been granted for pavement vendors to sell their merchandise on the pavements of the Fort and Pettah areas.