The Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) has recently written to IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, urging him to take action against beggars who accost motorists and other road users at colour lights in the Colombo city.

Secretary to AAC, Devapriya Hettiarachchi has informed the IGP that beggars are a nuisance at the traffic lights, where they irritate the motorists by banging on the car windscreen or the glasses.

“Furthermore, some of the beggars fall on the bonnets of vehicles, pretending that the motorists have knocked him down, and create a scene. We, therefore, wish to draw your attention that these unruly behaviour of the beggars has a negative effect on the image and culture of the country,” he said.

Given below are excerpts of the letter: “Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) is the oldest and the largest motoring organisation in Sri Lanka established in 1904. We are affiliated to the Federation Internationale De L’Automobile (FIA) which is the World’s largest Mobility and Tourism Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Currently, it has been brought to the notice of the Executive Committee that the subject of the Beggar Menace at the Traffic Lights in the Colombo City Limits has gone from bad to worse resulting in untold difficulties being faced by not only the motorists but also all road users, including children. It was reported that these Beggars are a nuisance at the Traffic Lights where they irritate the motorists by banging on the car windscreen or the glasses while creating a traffic congestion. Furthermore, some of the Beggars fall on the bonnet of the vehicle pretending that the motorist had knocked him down and create a scene. We, therefore, wish to draw your attention that these unruly behaviours of the Beggars undoubtably has direct effect on the image and culture of the country.

“We reiterate that this subject had been taken up with the Police Representatives who attend the monthly meetings of the Executive Committee for well over five years and we find that there had been no effective measures taken to eradicate this troublesome public nuisance.

It was, therefore, decided that we will take this matter to a forum with your representative and draw up a suitable programme which could bring an effective and constructive solution to the Beggar Menace at the Traffic Lights, especially within the Colombo City Limits (Zone 1-15).”