The Colombo Municipal Council gave the Manning Market a massive scrub down last morning as a part of its accelerated programme to beautify the Colombo City. Chief City Administrator, Omar Kamil said yesterday (05) that two hundred CMC workers were helped by the Public Health Department, the Fire Department, Water and Drainage Department and the Electrical Division during yesterdays (05) cleaning project. The PHD fogged the market for mosquitoes and insects.

Over five thousand traders sell their goods at the market each day.

Kamil who took up his duties as the Chief City Administrator (CCA) three weeks ago, was invited by the President to beautify the city and make it more presentable in the eyes of the locals as well as the tourists. The programme was initiated on Sunday (02), when six hundred CMC workers and a private cleaning organisation joined forces to clean the drainage systems and clean out the garbage in the area.

He said the business community had been invited on August 11 for discussions with CMC. "We want to encourage them to beautify the roads opposite their institutions. Grow some flowers and fix some lights so as to bring in some colour and variation. On Sunday (09), the CMC would carry out clearing in the old town hall area and deal with the Fourth and Fifth Cross streets.