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Begging in Colombo city prohibited from Jan.1st: Champika

19 December 2017 10:00 pm - 27     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Begging will be prohibited along the roads or in public transport within Colombo city limits with effective from January 1, 2018, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said today.

He said according to a survey conducted by his Ministry in partnership with the Charity Commissioner of the Public Assistance Department of the Colombo Municipal Council and the Social Empowerment and Welfare Ministry around 600 beggars operate within the Colombo city limits.

Minister Ranawaka said considering the inconvenience caused to the public and as a measure of Colombo city beautification, it has been decided to prohibit begging in and around Colombo from January 1st itself.

However he said it is also an intention of the ministry to rehabilitate those beggars from their miserable livelihood, and it had constructed a rehabilitation centre at a cost of Rs. 80 million at Rideegama, Ambalanthota for them.

“We will first deal with those helpless beggars with kindness. However those who doing this as a profession should immediately find other livelihood or we will take stern legal action against the latter using the provisions in the Municipal Council Ordinance,” Minister Ranawaka said.

Further he said the children who were begging would be provided with school education and the helpless and sick would be taken a good care for the rest of their life.

Minister also reminded that there are various categories of beggars in Colombo including drug addicts therefore the initiative would be carried out gradually.

He requested all the beggars to seek the assistance of the Commissioner of the Public Assistance Department at the Colombo Municipal Council if they find any livelihood difficulties and urged to refrain from begging. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)


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  Comments - 27

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  • Zubair Tuesday, 19 December 2017 10:22 PM

    Great

    Unchikun Tuesday, 19 December 2017 10:29 PM

    Oh! This is not the first time we have heard this story or fairy tale. The beggars are a nuisance in buses and trains and they should stop. I think the bus crews work hand in hand with the beggars and the bus crews too should be penalized.

    Dilan Tuesday, 19 December 2017 10:37 PM

    Only 600 beggars ? And 80 million rps allocated for them? That’s 150k for a begger

    Gayan Wednesday, 20 December 2017 03:05 PM

    More profitable to be a begger no.

    Sri Lankan Tuesday, 19 December 2017 10:55 PM

    Send all these beggars to Hambantota as there are too many bare land, set up a Ambalama to rehabilitate these beggars and the bugs (buggers).

    gamiya Sunday, 24 December 2017 01:59 PM

    i will not agree with your harsh comment. they are humans like us. if they have comforts like what we have they will not beg. these should be re habilitated with proper shelter, health, education and food. there should be any government funded charity association voluntarily do this work. people are there are many people out there to support them.

    Summa Tuesday, 19 December 2017 11:04 PM

    A good deed will be rewarded sooner or later. I've heard beggars who've got addicted to hard liquore (more than half a bottle a day, daily) and with their day's earnings it's a small percentage they spend on alcohol. Balance is on FD or give on high interest to their 'clients'. Not all but some. They surely will not be willing to get rehabilitated !.

    suresh Tuesday, 19 December 2017 11:25 PM

    Good move - especially the education for the child beggars, and getting rid of the professional beggars

    Tinkiriya Wednesday, 20 December 2017 12:10 AM

    Justice must not be non-discriminatory and must be equal to everyone. If street begging is to stop, then so must our politicians who beg for foreign aid. Are politicians above the law?

    Mr Bombastic Wednesday, 20 December 2017 03:00 AM

    So politicians will stop asking us for our votes before elections?

    Shiva Wednesday, 20 December 2017 04:39 AM

    When election coming, you all politicians also begging for votes from people...first, ban that one.

    anura Wednesday, 20 December 2017 06:08 AM

    Hey, minister what will happen if the beggars complain to the U.N Human rights council ?Did you think about that?

    Dhammika Wednesday, 20 December 2017 06:12 AM

    BEGGING at traffic lights is a SAFETY HAZARD , BEGGING at streets is a SOCIALl MENACE,BEGGING IS A BIG BUSINESS .

    Sharon Wednesday, 20 December 2017 11:36 AM

    Good decision. Please ensure that it is implemented...

    Senewi Wednesday, 20 December 2017 12:17 PM

    International beggars don't like local beggars.

    pumal Wednesday, 20 December 2017 01:53 PM

    Think first why they it is a reflection on the Governments performance with this rise of cost of living there will more beggars.

    Daniel Wednesday, 20 December 2017 02:23 PM

    Once the beggars start protesting, that spineless Maitripala will bend to their demands. Just like he bent to the demands of the anti-SAITM mafia, doctors, railway workers, trade unions, Russia, the list goes on and on and on. Can't trust this week and pathetic government to do anything worthwhile.

    Sincere Wednesday, 20 December 2017 02:59 PM

    This decision agrees with the proclamation of the PM. Booming economy!

    shaul Thursday, 21 December 2017 05:21 PM

    I was rolling with laughter when I read the line - the helpless will be taken care of for the rest of their life. How naive Champika is about the longevity of the Yahapalana.

    Nethra Saturday, 23 December 2017 11:10 AM

    Somebody says Spineless President,one can realize once the person who say so get the headache and the fever.The Hon President solve the problems for their citizens in a manner with respectful way,not with addi puddi rastadaya way.

    Mad jhonny Saturday, 23 December 2017 05:11 PM

    Even Politicians will have to stop begging for votes after January 1st. He he he.......

    luci Tuesday, 26 December 2017 12:10 PM

    Not only in City limits, please prohibit begging in all areas,especially women who carry infants. It is a huge injustice done to the infants, who are kept in the roads in hot sun, rain and dust. These infants will grow to be misfits in the society. Please address this issue asap.

    Asanka Wednesday, 27 December 2017 09:00 AM

    So is the Minister gonna ban "Pindapathe" too since that's also a form of begging?

    Bounty Wednesday, 27 December 2017 01:53 PM

    This certainly in not the first time we’ve heard this empty threat. The professional beggars and the ‘beggar kings’ will not be too worried the private operators are out of the city so it has no bearing on them. The reason for their begging too needs to be analysed before a cure is found ! By the way what about those begging for our votes .....seen at every junction only during elections ? Those are the rogues who should be rehabilitated.

    redflame Friday, 29 December 2017 09:08 PM

    This is good move. There was begger in Colombo 5 in the pavement near a color light without legs. My friend used to give him Rs 500 or Rs 1000 almost 3 to 4 times a week. One day he was not there and when asked for him from lottery seller nearby he has said he went to take drugs. He went to the place and seen for his own eyes taking drugs.

    Santindra Seresinhe? Sunday, 31 December 2017 03:28 PM

    What about the beggars that go from house to house before an election, promising the world but delivering the garbage can, and also the beggars that go from country to country, with a begging bowl?

    Ozee Monday, 01 January 2018 03:01 AM

    If politician stop robbing the money can be diverted to look after these poor people. The money stolen from the bond scam is even sufficient to feed all the beggars in India.


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