Ban on single use plastic delayed: CEA Director General

The implementation of the ban on single use plastic will be delayed by a week or two, said Director General of the Central Environment Authority (CEA) Hemantha Jayasinghe said. 

The government earlier this year announced the ban on the import, production, sale and local use of seven single-use plastic/polythene products from June 1. 

This included single use plastic drinking straws, plastic cutlery including plastic yogurt spoons, plastic string hopper moulds and plastic garlands. 

"The gazette is still with the Legal Draftsman as there are some legal clauses that need to be looked into as there have been previous regulations on plastic ban. Initially it was planned to implement the World Environment Day. But we were informed that it will be released in a week's time," he said. 

He said several companies have requested a relief period till stocks are cleared. 

"Discussions are underway with companies. We have no plan of giving long relief time as this was announced in February this year. Once the law is introduced it will be strictly implemented and raids will take place starting from next month," Mr. Jayasinghe said. 

Short of funds and lifeguards have made it extremely difficult for police, navy and life saving volunteers to cope with the mounting number of drowning deaths, mostly due to negligence.