May 31, Colombo (LNW): State institutions across Sri Lanka have been instructed to cease the purchase and use of single-use plastic water bottles effective from today (31), to reduce plastic waste and promote environmentally responsible practices within the public sector.
The directive, which came into force today, was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government through a special circular circulated to government departments, agencies and other state entities.
Under the new guidelines, heads of public institutions have been directed to take prompt action to eliminate the use of disposable plastic water bottles and discourage other forms of single-use plastics within their organisations. Officials have been urged to introduce more sustainable alternatives, including refillable containers and water dispensing facilities where feasible.
