Masks soon for school traffic cops

By L.B.Senaratne

Sgt: Ananda demonstrates the correct use of the signs that the students should use

Students in school road safety squads in the Central Province are to be equipped with anti-pollution masks. Though these students are on the road only for around half an hour, the high percentage of petrol and diesel fumes emitted from vehicles is said to be injurious to health.

A girl wears a mask to demonstrate

The Police have introduced masks which could be worn during the hours these students are engaged in road safety work, both in the morning and afternoon. Kandy Police initially have taken upon themselves to conduct seminars in schools to educate the children on the need to overcome these hazards.

A seminar was conducted for this purpose at Girls' High School for road safety squad members of Girls' High School and Viharamahadevi School. Sergeant Ananda of the Kandy Traffic Police who conducted the seminar, demonstrated how these masks should be worn and also donated jackets to be worn by the students during the period they are on the road. He said that motorists should obey the commands of students wearing these jackets.

In Kandy most schools are by the side of main roads. Ms. Mallika Senaratne and Ms. Champa, the teachers-in-charge of the squads of Girls' High School and Viharamahadevi Vidyalaya, respectively, coordinated the event.