PARLIAMENT

Hon. Dewananda Suraweera,— To ask the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing,—(1)

(a) Will he inform this House—

(i) whether a group of businessmen who were conducting business at Olcott Mawatha, Colombo-11 have been removed from their business premises and given shops at the place called "Floating Market";

(ii) whether he is aware that the said shops have now become unsuccessful  due to insufficient sale;

(iii) whether he is aware that the above-mentioned businessmen are demanding that their previous business premises be restored to them;

(iv) if so, whether it is possible to restore the previous business premises to them; and

(v) what steps have been taken so far to improve the "floating market"?

(b) If not, why?