Western Province Governor Azath Salley has instructed the Colombo Municipal Council to remove digital hoardings that would distract the motorists on the roads within the city limits. Such hoardings could contribute to more road accidents.
The governor made this statement when he met with a delegation from the Colombo Municipal Council, headed by its Commissioner V.A.K. Anura, comprising members of the Advertising Department of the council at his office on Tuesday.
The governor explained that such hoardings could be shifted to a safer place with the consent of the advertisers in coordination with the Traffic Department.
While requesting the CMC to remove all unauthorized hoardings from the city, Salley said that political cut-out should be displayed only with the permission of the CMC and it should be exhibited only for a limited period till the purpose of such holding ends.
Talking to the members of the delegation , the governor recalled that there is a Supreme Court ruling given by Justice Shirani Bandaranaike stipulating the specifications and locations of hoardings. Maximum size of the holding should be 20 x 10 feet, he noted.
“ It is sad that all kinds of posters are pasted on school walls, which would give a wrong message to the students,” and Advertising on lamp and electric posts should be totally prohibited ,the governor noted, insisting such posters should be removed forthwith.
Currently, there are 98 authorized hoardings in the city and others will be removed instantly.