Sri Lanka bans begging in Colombo

Colombo Dec 20 (IANS) Sri Lanka announced on Wednesday that begging will be banned in capital Colombo from January 1.

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said begging in and around Colombo would become illegal considering the inconvenience caused to people and as parts of steps to beautify the city Xinhua news agency reported.

Colombo has around 600 beggars according to a survey conducted by Ranawaka s Ministry in partnership with the Charity Commissioner of the Public Assistance Department and the Social Empowerment and Welfare Ministry.

Ranawaka said the beggars would be rehabilitated in a centre constructed by the government in southern Sri Lanka.

"We will first deal with those helpless beggars with kindness. However those who are doing this as a profession should immediately find other livelihood or we will take stern legal action against them " the minister said.

He said child beggars would be enrolled in schools and the sick would be taken care of.

--IANS
soni/mr