News

News

UNP, SLFP say ‘no’ to polythene for elections
By Vanessa Sridharan and N. Dilshath Banu
The UNP and SLFP have agreed to ban the use of polythene for election decorations, on a request made by Environment Minister A.H.M Fowzie.
“Our party doesn’t support the use of polythene and we welcome Minister Fowzie’s proposal. We will take necessary steps to ensure polythene is not used in our political campaigns” Deputy Minister Sripathy Sooriaarachchi said
However, he said that he may not be able to control his supporters who decorate not only the venues but the surrounding areas.

UNP deputy secretary Tissa Attanayake said his party completely agrees with Minister Fowzie’s proposal to ban polythene being used at election campaigns.
“Our leader Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to have a violence and pollution free election. We are instructing our supporters not to decorate election platforms with polythene as it would pollute the environment,” he said.

Minister Fowzie had requested Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to instruct political parties to refrain from using polythene materials to decorate venues of propaganda rallies, meetings and branch meetings during the months leading to the election. Minister Fowzie is still awaiting a reply from Mr. Dissanayake.

“A Cabinet decision was taken last year to ban the use of polythene materials for decoration purposes, and was in effect from February 1, but we could not implement it. We are hoping to implement the ban on polythene this time,” he said.

Minister Fowzie said he has already told his party supporters to refrain from using polythene during election campaigns. “We will be discussing this matter during the party leaders’ meeting. In case party supporters continue to use polythene we will seek help from the police,” he said.

Top

Back to News