Toilets as an obligatory prerequisite need an upthrust – By Sunil Thenabadu
The previous governments, instead of carrying out activities to resolve the urgent needs of the people, exhausted billions of rupees on matters that were much less significant and imperative. Some major issues that should be considered priorities include the need for clean drinking water, the threat to farmers from wild elephants and monkeys, marketing harvests, chronic kidney disease, jobs for graduates, and lowering the cost of living— all of which cause several adverse long-term socio-economic impacts affecting health, education, and many other aspects of the rural population, as well as the job market.
One priority, however, addressed by a former President but which has not been able to get off the ground, is the lack of public toilets. A past President publicly stated that many schools do not have toilets. A National Water Supply and Drainage Board survey revealed a few years ago that about 1,300 primary and secondary schools lacked proper sanitary facilities. This figure is likely much higher now. Two civil society organisations have disclosed that there are schools where students are discouraged from drinking water to avoid using toilets. This practice has contributed to an increase in renal complications among those unfortunate children.
It is also reported that absenteeism is widespread among girls in certain schools during menstruation periods. This is an accusation against the two main parties that have ruled the country for decades. Functional, hygienic, and acceptable toilets have never been a priority for politicians, perhaps because they do not see the value in a ceremonial opening of toilets. What schoolchildren endure is a miserable experience in many village schools.
Although tourism is constantly promoted by all governments, there are no clean toilets, or any toilets at all, along roads and towns, apart from those in small wayside hotels, which are neither hygienic nor well-maintained. As a result, people often have to hold on for hours to answer the call of nature. This is indeed appalling.
On the contrary, let alone tourists, Sri Lankans traveling long distances by bus are subjected to stress and anxiety when they need to answer the call of nature. The bus crew selects small hotels of their choice that lack toilet facilities, as they are well looked after by the hotel management with free meals.
It is time our politicians realize that public toilets are more significant than building international playgrounds, high-rise buildings, or even airports, the costs of which are relatively meager. The current President did mention this dire need during his election campaign. I hope that, under his guidance, this priority issue will be addressed soon.
Sunil Thenabadu
