The Sri Lankan government will add several one-off use plastic and polythene products to the list of banned plastics and polyphones considered harmful to the environment and even to human health. Straws and stirrers, spoons, forks, knives, including yogurt spoons, shopping, and small grocery bags made of plastic or polythene, plastic string hopper trays, packing of incense sticks and wicks using polythene material, plastic garlands, and plastic cups will be added to the list.

This comes after Sri Lankan Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera held a meeting on Wednesday and decided to take additional measures to discourage the use of plastic. There are also plans to ban small plastic bottles, plastic cups, and lunch wrapping sheets.

The new measures are the latest in the series of several steps and policy decisions taken by the present government. In April, the government had banned the import of chemical fertilizers into the country, citing various long-term effects on the quality of the land. 

However, some experts also warned the ban on chemical fertilizers, in the absence of better alternatives, could affect the country’s food security. The government, on the other hand, suggested using organic fertilizers. 

Prior to that, the Sri Lankan government had asked the palm tree plantation companies to close their farms in the country, citing impact on its forests. Additionally, it also banned the import of palm oils, to promote the use of coconut oils. 

(SAM)