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Environment Ministry claims success in banning single use plastics

by Ifham Nizam
The Environment Ministry on Friday claimed success for its campaign to ban plastic sachets (small packages) and lunch sheets, with the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) carrying out intensive raids against the manufacture, sale and distribution of banned polythene and plastic items.
Kore such raids are planned for the rest of the year, officials said.
Sachets worth an estimated Rs. 960 million are sold in the country annually, while the number of lunch sheets released into the environment annually exceeds 5.48 billion, according to a CEA study.
“Polythene will never decompose in nature. It takes 50 to 450 years for it to become invisible to the human eye, turning into micro plastic particles and then nano particles that eventually accumulate in the soil as well as in reservoirs and oceans,” Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
He maintained that the decision to reduce the use of polythene and plastic in the country has been very successful by banning the using of sachets and lunch sheets and their manufacture and distribution.
Controlling even the sale of inflatable toys had proved a success, he claimed.
Sachets caused great damage to the drinking water sources, polluting river systems and reservoirs. Billions of them are dumped indiscriminately countrywide causing enormous damage.
Following the ban on their production, distribution and sale, this menace has been largely overcome according to a CEA study.
Amaraweera has directed the CEA to be continuously vigilant and conduct further raids to determine whether these pollutants continue to be manufactured. Intensive raiding will continue for the rest of the year to detect manufacture of banned plastic products and over 700 officials will be deployed for the purpose
The Minister said that though the ban had been a success, continued vigilance was essential with manufacturing facilities regularly inspected. In an effort to control use of non-degradable plastics, the Ministry of Environment banned five single use polythene and plastics products from March 31, 2021.
The production, distribution and sale of non-perishable lunch sheets made of polythene were also banned from August 1 this year. Subsequently, Cabinet approval was granted to ban eight more polythene and plastic items. The relevant gazette notification will be issued soon, officials said.
The production, distribution and sale of sachets other than those used for packaging food and pharmaceuticals, plastic cotton bud stems and inflated polythene toys have been banned since March 31.
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Prime Minister Dr. HariniAmarasuriya stated that the Clean Sri Lanka program is an initiative aimed at removing obstacles to living a civilized life. The Prime Minister made this remark on Sunday (09) morning while participating in the ‘A Beautiful Beach, an Attractive Tourist Destination’ held at the Mattakkuliya Beach Park.
As part of this initiative, beach cleaning programs were conducted simultaneously at 124 locations across the Western and Southern Provinces from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with the goal of cleaning 1,740 kilometers of coastline nationwide.
Speaking further,the Prime Minister stated:
“Today, under the Clean Sri Lanka program, we are undertaking cleaning activities across many kilometers of shoreline around the island. However, this initiative is not just about physical cleanliness. It holds a deeper meaning—eliminating obstacles to a civilized way of life, not only in our surroundings but also in our mindset.”
“This transformation is not something the government can achieve alone. It requires a collective effort. It must start within ourselves, from our homes, villages, streets, and marketplaces. Public participation is crucial for this initiative to be successful. Today, we are here not in our official capacities, but as citizens of this country, committed to making a difference.”
“Through the Clean Sri Lanka program, we must unite to bring about the transformation that our people expect”.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusuf, Chairman of the Colombo District Development Committee Lakshman Nipunarachchi, Colombo District Secretary Ginige Prasanna Kumara, General Manager of the Marine Environment Protection Authority Jagath Gunasekara, officers of the Sri Lanka Police and the Tri-Forces, and local community members.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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