Sanitation issues and public inconvenience at the Galle Face Christmas Carnival

A large crowd gathered for the carnival held at Galle Face Green on the last Christmas Day, making it a joyful occasion that captivated many. Although families, tourists, and other large groups were attracted to the event throughout the day, 

the lack of adequate sanitation facilities became a serious problem, causing significant inconvenience, especially for women and children.

For this large-scale gathering, there were only two separate toilet facilities, one for men and one for women. As a result, queues in front of the women's toilet lasted for over an hour. It is regrettable that many women had to endure such distressing conditions. In some instances, due to the extremely long waiting times, women were even forced to use the men's toilets, which raised serious concerns regarding their privacy, dignity, and safety.

Meanwhile, despite the inadequate facilities, charging a fee of Rs. 30 for a single use of the toilet further fueled public dissatisfaction.

Many attendees strongly expressed that such conditions are unacceptable at a large-scale public event, especially on an important religious and cultural day like Christmas. Public health and sanitation are essential considerations at any large public gathering. The lack of adequate toilet facilities not only causes inconvenience but also poses potential health risks, particularly for the elderly, children, pregnant women, and individuals with medical conditions.