President bans polythene use for upcoming elections campaigns

President Maithripala Sirisena instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to ban the use of polythene during the upcoming election campaigns.

The President also instructed authorities to strictly enforce the laws against the people who violate the above mentioned ban on use of polythene.

President Sirisena furthermore briefed the Central Environmental Authority to inform the parties concerned about the matter calling a press briefing.

He gave these instructions during a meeting on streamlining waste management in local government bodies, held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday.

The President emphasised that the process of finding solutions for waste management could not be postponed under any circumstances and instructed relevant authorities to inform him speedily if there is any issue in this regard.

During this meeting the progress made by already implemented waste management projects including the progress of purchasing tractors, following of guidelines for waste management and action plans at the national level for the solid waste managementwere also discussed.

Discussions were also held regarding the current status of implementing the Cabinet decision on management of using polythene and plastic.

Attention was also drawn to the establishment of a proper method for clinical waste management at hospitals and for electronic waste management. 

Ministers Rajitha Senaratne and Faiszer Mustapha, Secretary to the PresidentAustin Fernando, officials from the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development Secretary and others participated in this meeting.