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Lanka must make polluters pay: CEJ Chief calls for plastic levy implementation without delay
Sri Lanka’s long-delayed effort to curb plastic pollution must now move from talk to tangible action, says Hemantha Withanage, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), warning that awareness campaigns and voluntary measures have failed to address the country’s growing plastic crisis.
Withanage, who has been involved in national plastic policy discussions since the 1990s, told The Island that imposing a price or environmental levy on plastic bags and packaging is the only way to hold producers and consumers accountable.
He added: “People say awareness alone is enough. But while we’ve been talking since 1990, global plastic production has jumped from 105 million tonnes to 460 million tonnes. Clearly, awareness hasn’t worked,” he said.
Withanage urged the government to implement the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework — a system that forces companies profiting from plastics to contribute financially to collection, recycling, and waste management.
“Multinational corporations like Coca-Cola and Unilever, supported by chambers of commerce, are trying to water down EPR by calling it consumer responsibility. This is unacceptable,” he said. “For over 20 years, we’ve been stuck in endless discussions because of political and corporate resistance.”
He added that even past attempts to introduce EPR laws and product tracking systems, such as QR codes for plastic bottles, were blocked by industry influence.
According to CEJ data, Sri Lanka generates nearly 10,000 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, of which only about 3,500 tonnes are collected. Of the 249,037 tonnes of plastic waste produced annually, about 97,000 tonnes are collected, 77,000 tonnes managed, and only 27,000 tonnes recycled.
“With such low collection and recycling rates, we are literally drowning in plastic,” Withanage warned. “The government’s own estimates show the waste management cost per tonne exceeded Rs. 1,800 back in 2013 — it’s far higher today.”
He said the global environmental cost of plastic pollution now stands at USD 3.7 trillion annually, roughly 10 times its production value.
Sri Lanka has previously tried — and failed — to impose levies on plastic bags. In 2008, then Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka introduced the Environmental Conservation Levy Act, but the initiative was halted after the Supreme Court ruled that prices could not be fixed under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act.
However, in March 2024, the Colombo High Court, following a CEJ petition, ruled that the government could introduce a levy or surcharge on plastic bags, provided the revenue is used for waste management, public awareness, and promoting alternatives.
“Despite agreeing to this in court, the Consumer Affairs Authority revoked the relevant Gazette in May. This is why CEJ has gone back to court for contempt,” Withanage said. “We need political courage, not bureaucratic excuses.”
Withanage estimates that even a one-rupee charge per bag could raise Rs. 15 million daily, assuming a 25% drop in plastic bag use.
“If we can cut the 20 million plastic bags used daily to 15 million and channel that money into waste management, it would make a real difference,” he said.
He added that Mozambique’s EPR system saves USD 551 million annually and supports 98,000 jobs, demonstrating the economic benefits of well-managed plastic policies.
Withanage criticised repeated beach cleanups and short-term awareness drives, often sponsored by the same companies producing plastic waste.
“Every year we see the same photos — officials, students, and corporate staff collecting plastic for a day. But a week later, the plastic is back. These are publicity stunts, not solutions,” he said.
He warned that alternatives such as starch-based bioplastics remain economically uncompetitive, while fabric-based products often contain plastic microfibres.
“This isn’t just CEJ’s battle — it’s everyone’s,” Withanage said. “The government, private sector, supermarkets, and the public must all play their part. Whether capitalist or socialist, we owe our children a clean and safe future.”
He stressed that pricing plastics is not merely an environmental measure but an act of justice.
“If we can’t fix this in our lifetime, at least let’s set the stage so the next generation can. We’ve talked long enough. It’s time to make polluters pay,” he added.
By Ifham Nizam
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.
The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.
Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.
Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.
Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.
The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.
Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.
Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.
Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.
The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.
Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.
The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.
The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.
SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.
Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.
The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.
GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.
Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.
(SF)
Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation
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Tharanga wins Ultimate Javelin title
CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process
GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015
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