National Environment Week 2025 kicks off

By Tania de Silva

Sri Lanka has launched a major new campaign to tackle plastic pollution, declaring a National Environment Week under the theme “Let’s End Pollution Caused by Plastic”.

The move is part of a global push for World Environment Day 2025, which focuses on “Ending Plastic Pollution”. The aim is to bring together local communities, schools, Government bodies and decision-makers to take action on the growing problem of plastic waste and protect the country’s natural environment.

Details of the week’s activities were briefed by the Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi, Environment Secretary Kamal Rohitha Uduwawala and the Director of Environmental Promotion Anton Jayathilake among other officials.

Environment Secretary Kamal Rohitha Uduwawala stressed the urgency of addressing single-use plastics, calling them “the most harmful” component of today’s plastic crisis. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s movement toward producer responsibility, explaining: “The concept of responsibility must fall on the producer and waste manager. We are introducing systems like the deposit refund system for PET bottles with QR codes and are planning to publish a book on plastic pollution to distribute in schools. We aim to establish environmental centres in communities under the “Clean Sri Lanka” environmental pillar.”

To build momentum throughout the week, each day from 30 May to 5 June has been assigned a specific environmental focus:

• May 30 – Plastic Waste Management Day

• May 31 – Air Pollution Reduction Day

• June 1 – Environmental Cleanliness Awareness Day

• June 2 – Biodiversity Conservation Day

• June 3 – Water Conservation Day

• June 4 – Coastal Cleanup Day

• June 5 – Tree Plantation and National Environment Day Celebration

Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said: “Our Sri Lankan theme is “Dalu Lananna Ida Denna”, which means “Let it Grow”. This is not just about one day. This is a long-term initiative. We are working with environmentalists and the general public to ensure year-round commitment. We invite all citizens to join us in Kegalle and across the country in celebrating and protecting our environment.”

Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, emphasised the global scale of the problem, stating, “The world produces around 420 million metric tonnes of plastic. In Sri Lanka alone, we have about 260,000 plastic producers. Often, Governments take action only on Environment Day. We hope to continue this work throughout the year.”

Additional Secretary – Environment Projects and Education Training W.G. Kumaragama underscored the importance of this schedule: “These dates are significant because we want to increase awareness of these issues within our communities. The dates are globally recognised, inspired by the United Nations, and we have partnered with different organisations to help fulfil Sri Lanka’s responsibility. A formal circular was issued, and we expect progress reports from all organisations involved. Since last year, we have also prioritised monitoring carbon emissions, and the Sri Lanka Carbon Fund is actively engaged.”

The directive was issued through Environment Circular PS/FEA/Circular/4/2025, dated 14 May, instructing all Government entities, from ministries to local authorities, to carry out awareness programsand sustainable practices during the designated week.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has adopted “Ending Plastic Pollution” as the 2025 global theme for World Environment Day. Plastic consumption now exceeds 430 million tonnes annually, two-thirds of which are single-use items. A mere 9% is recycled, while the remainder accumulates in landfills, rivers, and oceans.

Plastic now accounts for 80% of marine pollution, with 8 to 10 million tonnes entering oceans each year. 50 to 75 trillion microplastic particles are estimated to float in the oceans, infiltrating ecosystems and human food chains. The average person is believed to consume more than 50,000 plastic particles annually.

In response, the Clean Sri Lanka program has prioritised raising environmental consciousness by integrating the “5Rs” into public life: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

The circular encourages coordinated activities from schools, Government institutions, private companies, and NGOs. These activities include: awareness campaigns on plastic alternatives and sustainable lifestyles, systematic plastic waste disposal and classification by local authorities, clean-ups to reduce burning, landfilling, and ocean dumping, community-level plastic collection programs, restricting plastic use in public parks and halls, monitoring compliance with green plastic regulations, beautification of public spaces, rehabilitation of degraded lands, biodiversity and wetland conservation, coastal and mangrove protection, and promotion of green jobs as alternatives to plastic-based economies.

Institutions are urged to submit reports on their progress to [email protected] and maintain ongoing programs beyond the designated week.

The Environment and Renewable Energy Ministry Director Pathma Abeykoon gave a sobering account of how plastic has saturated everyday life: “We adapted to plastics rapidly, manufacturers introduced plastic even in clothing such as nylon. Plastic doesn’t decompose. The problem is that we don’t refuse, rethink, or reuse. We burn it or bury it, and by doing so, we pollute the air, the ocean, and the soil. This affects coral reefs and entire ecosystems.”

She proposed a threefold approach: strengthening laws and policy frameworks, continuous public awareness, and producer and distributor responsibility through market-based instruments.

She stressed the need for grassroots implementation, highlighting the direct impact of plastic pollution on both human and animal health.