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Celebrate a polythene-free Vesak, Central Environmental Authority urges
View(s):By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has informed the public not to use polythene and plastic for decorations and dansal (free food stalls) during the Vesak season.
The authority states that celebrating the festival using biodegradable and natural materials should be considered a national responsibility.
In particular, it has been repeatedly observed that single-use cups and food containers, which were banned by a 2023 Gazette notification issued by the Central Environmental Authority, are still being used in dansal.
Accordingly, the authority has officially informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, in writing, requesting that these items be explicitly prohibited under the health guidelines issued for dansal.
When putting up Vesak lanterns, thorana (pandals), and other decorations as well as dansal, people are often seen using polythene lunch sheets, plates, spoons, forks, stirrers, and polythene wrapping sheets.
Since paper-based alternatives for these materials are now available in the market, the Central Environmental Authority further urges the public to use those instead.
Commenting to the Sunday Times, Director (Investigations) of the CEA, Pemarathna Weerasingha highlighted that “due to the current rainy weather, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue are increasing. Proper waste collection systems are not available in every area. Even if they exist in major cities, many remote areas still do not have proper waste management. Plastic collection and disposal are not being done correctly.
“Another issue is that burning plastic is prohibited. A Gazette notification was issued in 2019. Releasing plastic smoke into the atmosphere is extremely dangerous.
“The public should pay serious attention to all these matters. That is why we strongly urge people not to use polythene or plastic.”
In raids carried out by the Central Environmental Authority from January 2026 to April 30, 2026, 2,340 kg of illegally manufactured polythene food wrappers were seized.
These raids were conducted in relation to Gazette notifications concerning banned polythene and plastic items. A total of 1,617 raids were carried out, leading to 117 legal actions. Among these, two raids were conducted jointly with the Consumer Affairs Authority on factories producing non-compliant food wrappers (lunch sheets).
Meanwhile, during the 2026 Sri Pada pilgrimage season, it was observed that the use of plastic and polythene by pilgrims traveling via the Maskeliya–Hatton route had decreased compared with 2025.
The Sri Pada pilgrimage season begins every year on the December full moon day and ends on the Vesak full moon day in next May.
According to Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary Sivaram Rajaveran, about 130 tons of waste have been collected so far along the Maskeliya–Hatton route.
This includes 90 tons of biodegradable waste, 40 tons of non-biodegradable waste and 02 tons of PET bottles.
Additionally, under the Clean Sri Lanka program, 5 metric tons of waste were removed from the summit area of Sri Pada in December, and 2 tons in February.
The secretary pointed out that during the same period last year, a total of 240 tons of waste had been collected, including 4 tons of PET bottles.
The Gazette No. 2341/30 dated July 19, 2023, prohibits several single-use items, including expanded polystyrene, food containers/boxes, plastic drinking straws, cups, plates, spoons, forks, knives, stirrers and plastic garlands.
Similarly, under Gazette No. 2034/34 dated September 01, 2017, the sale, offering for sale, free distribution, display, or use of polythene food wrappers (polythene lunch sheets) is prohibited by law, and violating this law is a punishable offence.
Under Gazette No. 2034/37 dated September 01, 2017, the use of any polyethylene or polypropylene products for decorations at political, social, religious, national, cultural, or other events is also prohibited by law, and violations are punishable.
Improper disposal of polythene and plastic waste causes many environmental problems, including pollution of waterways such as canals, streams, rivers, and oceans, and causes harm to animals when they ingest plastic or become trapped, entangled, or injured by it.
The entry of microplastics into the environment, which can also enter humans and animals through food, water, or inhalation, causes various health issues.
When plastic waste is openly burned, it releases toxic gases, creating serious health risks. Plastic and polythene waste also negatively affects biodiversity and the ecological balance of the environment, both directly and indirectly.
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