Action will be taken to reduce 50% of the arrears owed by shop owners at the Colombo Race Course Grounds, Urban Development and Housing Ministry Secretary Sirinimal Perera said. The decision has been taken due to the impact the Covid-19 epidemic has made on the business establishments. Accordingly, 50% of the arrears have been written off since February last year. Apart from that, the remaining shops have been given another concession for rent. In addition, several other reliefs have been provided to them, the secretary said. According to the concessions, new marketing strategies will be launched to educate consumers about the relevant businesses and to attract customers to those businesses. These concessions are to be implemented by the Urban Development Authority under the guidance of the State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Public Sanitation, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa on the instructions of the President and the Prime Minister. The Secretary to the Ministry also stated that the President wants to retain the businessmen who have been engaging in business at the Race Course Grounds, which was renovated in 2014 when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Defense Secretary. The Secretary said that the business community should take action to carry out new programmes to attract customers to this place and the Urban Development Authority will take appropriate action in this regard. Investigations have revealed that in the last few years, customers have not received a high quality and entertaining service. The Secretary also stated that immediate steps are being taken under the present government to change that situation. The business complex associated with the Race Course Grounds, which started with 21 businesses, has been set up with different stalls, including restaurants. Currently, two stalls are closed.