News
Mountain of a problem in empty quarter liquor bottles
By Ifham Nizam
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has disclosed that a recent study by his Ministry found that Sri Lankans in 2018 have consumed 18,995,790 litres of arrack sold in 105,532,169 of 180 ml (quarter) bottles, which he vowed to ban considering environmental damage they caused.
Minister Amaraweera, addressing a ceremony at Anuradhapura on Saturday to launch a programme to plant tree saplings along the road to Thuparama Chaitya, said: “Before attending this ceremony I read a report, which states that 52 % of the volume of arrack manufactured in this country are sold in quarter bottles. The liquor companies sold arrack in 180 ml bottles made of glass or plastic. The consumers discarded them haphazardly after use. The liquor companies do not collect them. It has also been found that not even five percent of quarter bottles are collected for recycling. They cause a considerable damage to the environment.”
“The research also found that in 2018, our people consumed 161,468,470 litres of arrack sold in 43,115,920 half (375ml) bottles and 39,426,069 litres of arrack sold in 52,568,092 bottles (750 ml). When I attended the Surakimu Ganga project to clean waterways, I saw heaps of empty plastic and glass bottles along the river banks.
Farmers complain of empty bottles floating on water ways. Whenever there is a rain these bottles float through canals into rivers. Now, we have to spend Ministry funds to remove them. We commenced a discussion to ban the quarter bottles several months ago. I will resume talks with officials this week and to expedite the process of banning the quarter bottles.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Court vacancy row throws Parliament into turmoil; sittings disrupted
Climate, pollution, forest loss now hitting economy: BASL chief
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