A fundamental rights case has been filed in the Supreme Court by a consumer against supermarkets charging their customers for polythene bags.

Liyanage Ariyapala of Kottegoda, Matara cited Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority, Rumy Marzook, Minister of Environment, Patali Champika Ranawaka and the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority, Udaya Gammanpila as respondents, filing it as public interest litigation.

In the petition Mr. Ariyapala said that charging him for a “sili sili” bag is illegal and violates his fundamental rights. He stated that he was charged between two and five rupees for bags to carry goods he purchased from a popular supermarket chain in Matara whereas earlier these were given free of charge.

He further stated that other supermarkets are also charging for these bags and added that this would be an added burden on consumers already dealing with the rising prices of consumer goods. He also added that even though the CEA banned manufacture and sale of polythene bags of thickness less than 20 microns in 2006, this action was not sanctioned by any authority.

He asked court to prepare a guideline regarding the use of these polythene bags and also for an order preventing the supermarket from charging customers for the bags.

The five leading supermarket chains in Sri Lanka, namely Keells Super, Cargills Food City, Magna, Laugfs and Arpico Supercentre collectively started charging for the polythene bags from August 1 to discourage the use of polythene bags.

The customers were given the choice of bringing their own bags or purchase eco-friendly re-useable bags from the supermarket.