Stop spitting and littering

27 June 2010 07:16 am - 43 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Gandhya Senanayake

An awareness programme to educate the public against spitting and littering on the roads will commence over the next few days in order to seek the support of the public to keep the city clean and if that fails legal options will be considered.

Special Commissioner for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Omar Kamil speaking to Daily Mirror online said that existing laws to curb littering and dirtying the streets were weak and so legal action cannot be taken to stop this kind of behavior.

“First we will hold the awareness programmes to educate the public regarding what they can do to keep the city clean. We will educate the public that they too have a role to play in keeping our city clean and beautiful. If all else fails legal options will be sought, he said. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 43

Nalaka Monday, 28 June 2010 05:09 AM

O This is great News. I have been waiting to hear a great news like this for years. This effort should educate those who are going in vehicles too. Our people think that the road is their garbage bin. They don't hesitate to open the shutter and throw out the sily sily bag or the food wrap straight to the road. This is the most irritating sight I see always.

Hash Sunday, 27 June 2010 01:10 PM

He has said it, but will he implement it ?. I see this as a Gimmick before the CMC election. Why wasn't this said last month or last year? Why now ?

fairoos Sunday, 27 June 2010 01:26 PM

good move,to educate start from kinder-garden,like in Japan and Singapore

happzz Sunday, 27 June 2010 01:54 PM

this isn't a big issue like in some other countries

Citizen Sunday, 27 June 2010 02:57 PM

Betel chewing - mainly by Bus drivers, bus conductors and small vendors. It is a carcinogen too. Government should build adequate number of public toilets and leisure centers.

ulg Sunday, 27 June 2010 03:14 PM

a Very good move!

citizen1 Sunday, 27 June 2010 03:16 PM

Now this is an agreeable move unlike demolishing people's abode/ churches/killing beggars etc.

Roshan Monday, 28 June 2010 04:24 AM

First of all bring a law to punish or fine the public for throwing the Garbage on the road.

sad Monday, 28 June 2010 04:29 AM

young generation could bring a change for all these undesirable behaviors..we should also educate public how countries not far away from us maintain their cities. It would motivate our people to do their individual part.

Gun Monday, 28 June 2010 04:47 AM

I think the CMC should first install public bins/trash cans all over Colombo. Right now if you are walking on the roads of Colombo and you want to throw a piece of paper away or a plastic bag, there are absolutely no bins to do that.

Azher Kamil Monday, 28 June 2010 04:59 AM

Good Move wish u all the best. If you can start its GOOD and if you can continue it’s EXCELLENT.

Thomas Sunday, 27 June 2010 01:09 PM

Enforce a fine of Rs1000/= initially, and if repeated jail for 6months rigorous imprisonment.

Moderate Monday, 28 June 2010 05:25 AM

We need to make a start sometime. If we approach this with a defeatist attitute we will never move forward.

jeena Monday, 28 June 2010 05:30 AM

Just like prohibiting smoking in public places, he Govt should take strict action or impose fines on those who spit on the streets, out of moving vehicles and same for littering. BETTLE (Bulath) Addicts are the worse offenders when it comes to spitting issues. ALSO THOSE WHO SELL FOOD AND DRINKS IN DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS SHOULD BE RESPONCIBLE FOR COLLECTING THE USED CONTAINERS OR MANAGE THE WASTE IN A RESPONCIBLE WAY ( Eg- Yogurt, ice-cream & beverages ).

Lali Monday, 28 June 2010 05:55 AM

Yes, please impose heavy fines. It's the only way to make our people do the correct thing.

Ramani Bathlamouze Monday, 28 June 2010 06:33 AM

Excellent move. There must be strict laws and laws that are implemented. See the Galle face green no one is held accoutable. All stall holders must ensure that they have staff who keep the place clean all the time. Otherwise they must be charged. You cant walk, its filthy. Some sections of our society dont care and they litter where ever they go

Rajitha Monday, 28 June 2010 06:35 AM

The correct way to go. I hope the governemnt is firm on these things and not just a one off gimmick. It is time Sri Lanka brings laws and fines to clean the city. Look at Slave Island , Galle Face, and some sections of the city which is more dirty than others. why is that.

niluuka Monday, 28 June 2010 07:01 AM

Dogs are better than PIGS!
Now New Delhi is better than Colombo!!

Kama deng Monday, 28 June 2010 09:09 AM

What a good start, yes I had visited this beautiful country of smiling people. But the way they throw papers to the road side & the way they are spiting on the road was very had to see. Sometimes the people in buses spite on to the car with their mouth full of Beatle leaves, Hopeless, to see. If you can implement your law sure it is going to give a new look to your nice country. Hope…?

Maka Monday, 28 June 2010 10:00 AM

First they should stop the use of posters.....then half the problem will be solved. Lead and the rest will follow

oshi fernando Monday, 28 June 2010 10:33 AM

This is a good move, but what you need to do is firstly have litter/garbage bins installed in places concerned so that public can dispose waste and litter.Without installing them, you cannot expect public to take rubish with them.

Jaminda Mendis Monday, 28 June 2010 10:34 AM

Before stop spitting resolve the garbage issue. Anyone knows when garbage is smelly people spit.
Suggest why not a politician bring some containers of padikkam and make a law saying every citizen needs to hang a padikkam over his neck when going on the road and in public places.

Lokumalli Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:16 AM

And I bet you let your kids throw their yoghurt cups on the "floor" in front of the kade, along with the plastic spoons.

Rana Sunday, 27 June 2010 08:27 AM

Good Move and make sure Commissioner that your gonna look in to the drainage system in Grater Colombo also.

Thisahamy Sunday, 27 June 2010 08:34 AM

Long over due.

Gyan Sunday, 27 June 2010 08:39 AM

i wonder whether this is another public gimmick ahead of the municipal council elections...

Just Another Citizen Sunday, 27 June 2010 08:41 AM

What a brilliant move.. The sooner the better. This habit is the most disgusting thing around. I hope legal action will be taken.

Nimal Sunday, 27 June 2010 08:55 AM

If Sri Lanka implements heavy fines for littering and other misdemeanors, this behavior will stop, as it did in Singapore.

GoodSriLankan Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:02 AM

Ha Ha With people like Gyan it would be hard to develop Sri Lanka. So negative in thoughts..

Lokumalli Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:09 AM

You do not remove centuries if not millennia of bad habits in two years.

Tuan Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:10 AM

Bravo! Bravo! Finally!

Lokumalli Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:14 AM

if you want to eliminate spitting, eliminate betel! And if you achieve that, you will also rid the country of a good number of inattentive bus drivers and conductors.

Yohan Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:14 AM

Thats awsome !! Just one little thing to note : they should have access to trash cans atleast between each bus stop to dispose of stuff while on commute !

dave Sunday, 27 June 2010 08:15 AM

Good Move. These are the signs of Development. After another 2 years Sri Lanka will be a beautiful place to live.

zeereez Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:16 AM

what an IDEA sirjee...

menaka Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:35 AM

agreed!

menaka Sunday, 27 June 2010 09:37 AM

very good move!
along with this we also need a strong policy on posters. it is appalling to see how ugly the cities look due to the millions of posters put up with no decency.

Lokumalli Sunday, 27 June 2010 10:00 AM

A betel disincentive tax is in order, like maybe 50 rupees per bundle.

firoz Sunday, 27 June 2010 10:04 AM

They will need to ban urinating in public as well !

Tharaka Chanaka Sunday, 27 June 2010 10:39 AM

Half the people spitting / littering are employees of the CMC itself...

Lokumalli Sunday, 27 June 2010 10:40 AM

When there are no places to urinate, the nearest bush, tree or wall is the next best thing.

Rushangan Sunday, 27 June 2010 12:45 PM

Wow! Wonderful move!!! these types of things are needed in Sri Lanka now. Apart from all political differences all can come together to prove our country as a Paradise.

Thumbs Up!!!

Sammy Sunday, 27 June 2010 01:01 PM

This good move should be extended to the whole country & start with major cities, not just Colombo. The ban on sticking of bills & putting up of unauthorized posters should also be enforced forcefully.

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Stop spitting and littering

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