CEA nabs 10 harmful polythene producers and sellers

By Shanika Sriyananda

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA), continuing its fight against harmful polythene usage in the country, has nabbed 10 harmful polythene producers and sellers in its islandwide raids commenced from 1 January.

With the law on harmful polythene products coming into effect from 1 January, the CEA has inspected over 150 out of over 600 polythene manufacturers in the country.

CEA Director (Waste Management Division; WMD) Ajith Weerasundara told the Daily FT that there are polythene manufacturers, wholesalers and supermarkets among those who have violated the new laws.

“The legal division of the CEA is now taking action to file cases against them,” Weerasundara said, adding that over 450 officers including those attached to CEA, WMD, provincial and district offices are engaged in islandwide raids. 

According to new regulations, those who do not adhere to the stipulated regulations in manufacturing polythene-related products will be fined Rs. 10,000 or face a two-year imprisonment. The guidelines were announced in the Gazette for manufacturing shopping bags, rigifoam boxes and lunch sheets following a proposal by Minister of Environment President Maithripala Sirisena.

Under these new guidelines, the Government had announced a ban on all polythene products less than 20 microns from 1 September last year. 

Weerasundara said that CEA would expedite raids on weekends, as demand for polythene products, especially shopping bags, are high during weekends.