Polythene Ban  Effective From Today Depriving 40,000 Jobs

According to the CEA statistics, currently there is a daily usage of 15 million shopping bags and 20 million lunch sheets.

The polythene ban comes into effect from today (1)  in Srilanka deprives  40,000 jobs  and affect 300,000 people  indirectly in the industry. Anyone violating this regulation would be fined Rs 10,000 or would have to serve a two-year prison term according to the National Environment Act (NEA), Chairman of the Central Environment Authority (CEA), Prof. Lal Dharmasiri.

All Ceylon Polythene Manufacturers and Recyclers Association (ACPMRA), Chairman, Anura Wijetunga earlier said, that they proposed to CEA the alternative of using Oxo- biodegradable technology manufacturing process.

Further  he said, the complete clamp on the polythene manufacturing industry would have a severe impact on the country’s economy.  The industry posses raw material stock for three months of manufacturing.  Hence, the manufacturing of polythene would not be halted until the raw material in stocks are  fully utilized.