News
Stinking cesspits in ‘Little Rome’
Negombo, just seven km from the international airport and a short ride from Colombo, is a flourishing city with tourist-filled coastal resorts and its strong Catholic and Dutch heritage and large fishing fleet attracting crowds – but it is woefully lacking in basic amenities.
As thousands throng fashionable Negombo’s streets daily, enjoying “Little Rome” with landmarks such as the giant neoclassical Catholic centre of worship, St Mary’s Church in the heart of the city, the Dutch Fort Gate, the Dutch Canal and other historical attractions, or transact business at the District Magistrate Court, Negombo Prison, post office, police station and the popular Negombo Market, they lack essential access to sanitary public toilets.
The existing toilets are truly like “hell in Little Rome”, located – to service the entire 30 sq km of the city environs – close to the old Market and the Divi Naguma Sathi Pola at Kamachchode. Their dilapidated and disgusting condition seems to have not attracted the attention of the authorities.
Some toilets are overflowing while others are covered only with Milo tin lids, and many lack doors.
Just close to the toilets, beneath a Bo-tree, are vegetables spread on the ground for sale – an issue worth examination by public health inspectors.
Aggravating the situation is a concrete pit strewn with polythene and beer cans – a breeding-ground for dengue mosquitoes even though the Negombo Municipal authorities are announcing various fines over such sites.
The people of Negombo feel they deserve modern, sanitary and well-kept public toilets in return for their taxes.