Spare the Capital

The Rajagiriya flyover and the parliament road are two stretches that motorists prefer to take any day. While the flyover offers a panoramic view the tree lined parliament road is a lush green haven in the country’s capital. Till a few days back both these places were treated with care by everyone and as a result they retained their spruced up look.  
However, everything changed last week.   

Everyone was dismayed and horrified to find that some over-ambitious politician has ventured to desecrate both these places with his cut outs. On each and every lamppost on the flyover and along the parliament road are the cut outs of a minister with an announcement of his ministry exhibition. 

The exhibition interestingly has part of the minister’s surname in its name. These ubiquitous cut outs have turned the otherwise neat and tidy road and the flyover into an eyesore. The minister and his team with their reckless act have defiled what has been preserved so far with care and this ironically they have done with the tax payers’ money. Given the amount of publicity lent to the exhibition, it’s obvious that the ministry has busted several millions of tax payers’ money just for the pre-event publicity alone. Besides, a few other politicians have turned the parliament roundabout to look like a pandal with some gigantic and cheap looking cut outs.   

Given the amount of publicity lent to the exhibition, it’s obvious that the ministry has busted several millions of tax payers’ money just for the pre-event publicity alone

The neighbouring Rajagiriya- Welikada area has already become the poster capital of Sri Lanka, thanks to tuition masters. Battaramulla is also no better. Now that a minister has set a precedent there’s a chance of the tuition masters and the rest of the politicians too getting on to the flyover and also encroaching the parliament road.  

Another disturbing trend has been observed down the neat and tidy Japan Sri Lanka Friendship road. One often sees fruit vendors along the pavement of this stretch of road which definitely is the most scenic in the capital with its spectacular lake view. 

Unless this practice is nipped in the bud, chances are for this beautiful road too turning into a vendors paradise as it has happened in many other places. The road stretch in Heenetikumbura next to Thalangama Koswatte is an example how an otherwise peaceful and tidy road strip ended up as a hawkers’ bazaar. One often sees fish vendors down the Buthgamuwa cross road as well, these days.   

Last year the Urban Development Authority moved to ban billboards in certain areas in Sri Jayewardenepura as part of their beautification plan for the country’s capital. However, it looks still as if some politicians and businessmen continue to flout this law and one only has to look at the parliament junction to catch the biggest culprits. It’s obvious that time has come for the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development to extend the law to cut-outs and posters too. That is the only way to prevent the country’s capital losing its beauty to irresponsible politicians and tuition masters. Colombo has already lost its battle against cut-outs and posters. The government should at least try to save Sri Jayawardenepura-Kotte.