Minister and NGOs in battle over beggars

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About sixty beggars rounded up from the City of Colombo have been moved to a rehabilitation centre.Officials said yesterday that more would be rounded up soon and taken to the centre in Ridiyagama. As the operation continued, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka hit out at Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which said the action violated the liberty of the poor.

“We have found that the large number of beggars are mentally affected, drug addicts and admittedly some poor. There are also organised groups for whom this has become a business. Do the NGOs want this problems to proliferate?” he asked yesterday.
Minister Ranawaka said the organisations that spoke of the welfare of beggars should address their needs instead of pontificating to the Government what to do.

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