Connect with us

News

Researchers call for an end to burning of plastic, e-waste

Published

on

‘Some materials contain carcinogens’

By Ifham Nizam

Plastic-coated wires, tyres and electronic waste continue to be burnt countrywide, but no action is taken against the polluters, environmentalists complain.

Researchers of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) have pointed out that plastic is burnt haphazardly, and people are exposed to toxic fumes. Garbage piles, collected by municipalities or local councils, also catch fire causing air pollution, they have said.

 “It is clear that the students of Panadura Royal Junior College suddenly fell ill last Wednesday not due to a spontaneous fire,” the research team has said

Nearly 40 children were hospitalised due the inhalation of toxic smoke.

“A teacher of the school told us that six children are currently undergoing treatment at the Panadura Hospital. In a land near the school, plastic wires and tires were set on fire to obtain salable items including copper wires,” the research team added.

CEJ Director and Senior Advisor Hemantha Withanage said that burning of even organic pollutants in the open environment should be avoided under any circumstances.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins and furans are among the toxic chemicals that are usually released into the air when plastic waste is burnt, according to the researchers.

Withanage also said that among the government agencies responsible were the Central Environmental Authority, the Office of the Medical Officer of Health of the area and the Environmental Police Unit.

Regulation No. 1 of 2017 effective under the National Environmental Act prohibits the open burning of garbage and other combustible materials including plastics. It says:

* No person shall allow or permit the open burning of garbage or other combustible materials, including plastics.

* Any person who fails to comply with the above regulations shall be liable to an offence and liable to the following penalties under Section 31 of the National Environment Act No. 47 of 1980.

The public complains that often municipal garbage collectors refuse to remove inorganic waste unless they are paid for it.

A person found guilty by Magistrate’s Court of the aforesaid offence may be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years and/or fined Rs 1,500. E-waste contains very harmful “persistent pollutants”, according to the CEJ researchers.

“These types of plastics contain Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals (EDCs), carcinogens, etc., so we strongly remind you that these should not be burned in the open under any circumstances,” Withanage added.

He also said that indifference towards environmental protection had led to many problems.

“Institutions responsible for preventing environmental pollution should take steps to immediately stop such illegal burning of plastic, etc.,” he stressed.



Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in  the  Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time

Published

on

By

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 04 May 2026, valid for 05 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in  the  Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.


Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

on

By

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

Continue Reading

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

on

By

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

Continue Reading

Trending