Polythene: Grace period for consumers

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: The Government has decided to give a grace period of three months to the public to stop the use of polythene products below 20 microns including 'sili sili' bags, lunch sheets and grocery bags.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Maitripala Sirisena told a media conference yesterday that the concession will be provided in view of the widespread use of the banned material by the average Sri Lankan consumer.

However, he reiterated that the regulations will be strictly enforced regarding producers and vendors of polythene products below 20 microns since they were given adequate notice of the ban which came into effect from January 1.

"We took steps to educate the business community of the harmful effects of these products on the environment and the proposed regulations during the last few years. Therefore, they will come under strict scrutiny," the minister said.

But the regulations will be enforced on the public only after three months," he said.

Minister Sirisena said the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has carried out raids on 12 shops selling polythene products below 20 microns during the last four days.

The raids were carried out in Battaramulla, at the Peoples Park shopping complex in Gunasinghepura and at retail shops in Pettah.

"In future, we are planning to go beyond 20 microns and ban polythene products even above that mark.

In India all polythene products below 40 microns are banned while in certain Western countries polythene is totally outlawed".