Amendments to National Environmental Act

THE Government has decided to introduce amendments to the National Environmental Act imposing a ban on manufacturing non- bio-degradable polythene products.

Cabinet spokesman and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the weekly Cabinet briefing yesterday that Section 23(w)2 of the Act will be amended banning the manufacture of polythene having an average thickness of 33 microns.

"The objective of the proposed amendment is to minimise the impact of such non bio-degradable polythene on the environment," the Minister said.

The proposed amendment forwarded to the Cabinet by Environment and Natural Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie will also seek to ensure that all polythene bags in the market are made degradable using modern technology. - UK and RM