• The Automobile Asso., the Police & the CMC note ease of traffic, unhindered pathways for emergency services, & reduction of harassment & accidents when motorists/riders are discouraged from entertaining beggars 

The presence of beggars at traffic lights in populated areas including Colombo has been causing disruption for motorists and motorbike riders. This growing concern has prompted the Police, along with certain other agencies, to embark on a campaign aimed at curbing begging at traffic lights and discouraging motorists and riders from handing out spare change. Yet, the topic is fraught with sensitivity, as some voices insist that any approach must be grounded in compassion and an understanding of the underlying issues that drive people to beg.

The Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC), the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), and the Police Department have developed a programme to educate motorists with the aim of reducing, or at least significantly decreasing, the incidence of begging at traffic lights throughout the country. After several rounds of discussions, this plan was revealed at a media briefing earlier this week.

Speaking during the media briefing, AAC Secretary Devapriya Hettiarachchi said that the beggars at traffic lights have had a negative impact on the country's reputation. Recognising the importance of resolving the issue, he said that the AAC had drafted a set of proposals and referred them to 18 stakeholders including the Presidential Secretariat and the Police last year (in 2023). “We received positive responses from all these institutions. They got their representatives to participate in the related discussions hosted by the AAC. We also appointed a strategic committee dedicated to finding solutions,” he said. 

A video has been produced by AAC in all three languages to be shared with the public, conveying the importance of discouraging begging at traffic lights. The video aims to raise awareness and educate people about why it is crucial to address this issue, highlighting the safety and social impacts of begging at busy intersections. By spreading this message in multiple languages, the campaign seeks to reach a broader audience and encourage a more coordinated response to the problem.

“Avoiding donations to beggars at traffic lights is a crucial step in reducing traffic congestion. When motorists slow down or stop to give money, it can cause significant delays, leading to traffic jams that disrupt the flow of vehicles. This delay can result in increased fuel consumption, adding to the costs and environmental impact for everyone on the road. Traffic jams also impede the movement of emergency services like ambulances and fire trucks, which rely on clear roads to reach their destinations quickly. When seconds count, any delay can have severe consequences for those in need of urgent medical care or rescue operations. By not donating to beggars, you may help maintain a smoother traffic flow, ensuring that emergency services can reach people in crisis without unnecessary hindrance,” the ACA tells the public.

Challenges posed by beggars

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) – Traffic and Road Safety Range Indika Hapugoda also shared insights into the challenges posed by beggars who cause traffic jams near traffic lights. He noted that this awareness programme aims to address the disruptions caused by such behaviour. He said that motorists, particularly foreign tourists, often face harassment at intersections and traffic lights, with incidents where “even expensive vehicles are damaged”. In some cases, he said that beggars scrape cars with coins or iron sticks, and hit the glass to intimidate motorists.

He further revealed that the Police recently issued a related circular to all 607 Police stations around the country, informing officers about beggars obstructing traffic at junctions and traffic lights. “The Police arrested 94 beggars in the course of last week and produced them in court,” he said, adding that the current legal framework allows only for short-term imprisonment or fines, which often leads to repeat offences. SDIG Hapugoda highlighted the extent of the issue, pointing out that there are 180 traffic lights in the Colombo District and about 350 across Sri Lanka. “As soon as the red light is activated, beggars come near vehicles and they cause a traffic jam. Vehicles cannot move, and sometimes accidents happen,” he noted. 

When a beggar meets with an accident, he said that they demand money, claiming that it was the driver's fault. Given this context, he urged the public to avoid giving money to beggars, emphasising the broader safety related risks and disruptions that arise from such practices.

According to him, the Police proceeds as per Section 03 of the Vagrants Ordinance, No. 04 of 1841 which deals with persons being able to maintain themselves by work or other means, but who shall willfully refuse or neglect to do so, and shall wander about or place himself/herself in any public place, street, highway, court, or passage to beg or gather alms, Section 59 of the National Thoroughfares Act, No. 40 of 2008 which holds the obstruction of a road, a public road or national highway to be an offence, and the relevant provisions of the Penal Code with regard to beggars at traffic lights.

Aim of the Police

He pointed out that the aim of the Police is to ensure that ‘motorists including foreigners can travel to their desired destinations without any harassment and without being affected by beggars’. However, he acknowledged a significant limitation: “The Police has no specific method to remove beggars, and there is no system to retain or rehabilitate them. We can bring them to court, but they are usually released on bail in three to five days or, at most, a week.” He noted that this legal constraint makes it challenging to permanently address the issue. “Thus, we can only eliminate this risk by informing the drivers not to give money,” he emphasised.

Despite attempts to rehabilitate beggars and direct them towards employment, SDIG Hapugoda said that the efforts are often undermined by the high earnings that begging can yield. “When we say we offer Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000 per day for a job, they reply, 'Why should we take that when we can make Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 a day by begging?' Some beggars even run businesses and own properties worth millions,” he explained.

Emphasising that awareness is key to addressing the issue, the CMC's Deputy Director – Traffic, engineer K.M.K. Kularatne stressed the potential consequences of giving to beggars. “Beggars are part of our society, and we naturally want to help those in need, but, by doing so, we may unintentionally cause harm. Sometimes, it is a direct threat to the safety of the beggars themselves, as accidents can occur when they approach vehicles. Previous operations to curb begging have largely been unsuccessful. We have now learned that the most effective way to address this issue is to stop giving to beggars near traffic lights. If people don’t give, the problem will naturally diminish.”

Factors to consider

Speaking to The Daily Morning, an undergraduate who has carried out a research on beggars, Sameera Sirisena said that it is crucial to consider both the reputation of the country and the welfare of beggars, when addressing the issue of beggars be they those who beg at traffic lights or other places. “This is a deeply sensitive topic that touches on matters of social justice, public perception, and national reputation. To tackle this problem effectively, it is essential to start by collaborating with the relevant institutions — the Government bodies, the social services, non-profits, and community organisations. By joining hands, these groups can create programmes that focus on the welfare and rehabilitation of beggars, rather than merely removing them from sight. This approach helps ensure that the most vulnerable members of society receive the support that they need, while also working to improve the country's image.” 

He said that investing in social welfare programmes, job training, and housing related initiatives can create sustainable solutions, allowing beggars to transition from street corners to more stable livelihoods