President discusses about alternatives for asbestos

A discussion on regulating the use of alternatives for asbestos, chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena was held on Wednesday at the Presidential Secretariat.

The government’s attention is paid on the alternatives for asbestos, after the decision taken by President Maithripala Sirisena to ban the use of asbestos from 2018.

The discussion was based on creating and developing of standard alternatives for affordable prices, and encouraging of people to use those alternatives.

The attention was paid on the use of non-asbestos roofing products and construction materials for schools, hospitals and other government buildings. There was a consideration to ban every product related to asbestos such as brake backing plates of vehicles, clutch plates, gaskets and asbestos ropes.

The government, under the directive of President Sirisena took a decision to totally ban the import of asbestos from 2018, with the aim of making the people healthy in the country.

The President pointed out the importance of raising public awareness of the danger of using asbestos. He also mentioned the need of making the asbestos production and marketing institutes knowledgeable about the government’s measures on this regard.

He also pointed out the importance of holding consultations with relevant people when taking decisions and putting them into actions, of the matters related to policies.

Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Mr. Udaya R. Seneviratne, Chairman of Central Environment Authority Prof. Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, Additional Secretary to the President Rohana Keerthi Dissanayake, and the Director General of Health Services Doctor Palitha Maheepala also participated in this discussion.