Sasanka De Silva Pannipitiya

Sri Lanka’s ambitious “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative has sparked excitement and hope among citizens, yet recent developments have raised questions about its effectiveness and the bureaucratic hurdles that threaten its success.
While the aim is admirable—to foster a cleaner, greener, and more responsible environment for all—there are glaring gaps in implementation that need urgent attention.

Take, for instance, the Makumbura Multimodal Center in Kottawa.
The centre’s restaurant has been closed for nearly a month due to the expiration of the previous tender on December 31, 2024.
Despite the immediate need for dining services among commuters, the authorities have yet to finalize fresh tender applications for reasons that remain inexplicable.
The closure has not only disappointed travellers seeking a convenient place to eat before their journeys but has also led to a loss of revenue and potential job opportunities in the area.
Such setbacks highlight a critical need for more responsive governance that prioritizes the needs of the citizens.

Additionally, a particularly striking example of bureaucratic inefficiency occurred again recently in the neighbourhood.
Mihindu Mawatha, a road in dire need of repair, received a fresh asphalt layer just before the recent Presidential elections, transforming it into a smooth, enjoyable route.
However, mere weeks after this improvement, workers arrived to address a leak in an underground pipe, digging a large hole in the newly laid surface.
When questioned about who would be responsible for restoring the road post-repair, the answer was shockingly evasive.
It was implied that once the pipe leak was fixed, someone would tend to the road repairs, but without a clear commitment or timeline.
This lack of accountability creates frustration and further exemplifies the bureaucratic inertia that plagues the country.

The Clean Sri Lanka initiative’s success hinges not only on the occasional cleanup drive but on systemic changes to curb littering and promote responsible behavior.
Currently, there is no effective punitive system for those who litter, allowing irresponsible actions to persist largely unchallenged.
The emphasis seems to be on superficial fixes rather than on cultivating a culture of cleanliness and civic responsibility.

As cities and towns across the island witness isolated cleansing efforts, the overarching ineffectiveness of the bureaucracy threatens to stifle meaningful progress.
If officials fail to align their actions with the broader objectives of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, these measures may have little impact, ultimately leading to disillusionment among citizens who yearn for real change.

For the “Clean Sri Lanka” vision to flourish, the government must take decisive action to address the systemic issues within its bureaucracy.
It must establish clear accountability for public works, create strong penalties for littering, and engage the community in ongoing discussions around cleanliness and environmental stewardship.
Only then can this noble vision transform from an aspirational slogan into a tangible reality that benefits all Sri Lankans.

The intent behind the Clean Sri Lanka initiative is commendable; its implementation must be more than a series of piecemeal efforts.
The path to a cleaner, more responsible nation lies in truly understanding and resolving the bureaucratic hurdles that continue to hinder progress.
Without addressing these foundational issues, we risk watching a well-meaning initiative slowly lose steam before it has a chance to truly flourish.

Sasanka De Silva

Pannipitiya.