Sri Lanka bans begging in capital from Jan 1

COLOMBO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government said on Wednesday that it would enforce a ban on begging along the roads or in public transport in capital Colombo from Jan. 1, local media reported.

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said that 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 are begging within the Colombo city limits.

He said considering the inconvenience caused to the public and as a measure of the Colombo city beautification program, it had been decided to prohibit begging in and around Colombo from Jan. 1.

He said the beggars would be rehabilitated as the Sri Lankan government had constructed a rehabilitation center in southern Sri Lanka.

"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 them using the provisions in the Municipal Council Ordinance," Ranawaka said.

He also said children who were begging would be enrolled in schools and the sick would be taken care of. Enditem