Polythene ban ; Can regulation be reformed?

While Asian nations from Bangladesh to Bhutan have taken bold, systemic steps to choke the polythene menace at its source, Sri Lanka still tinkers at the edges pretending regulation is reform. Bangladesh banned polythene bags in 2002. India outlawed single–use plastics nationally in 2022. Bhutan stopped plastic carry bags as far back as 1999. Even Cambodia and Indonesia have moved beyond pilot schemes and token restraint by blocking thin bags at supermarket entry points. Yet Sri Lanka continues with a cosmetic half-measure – banning only the free issue of polythene bags at supermarkets – conveniently allowing anybody to buy the same bag at the same counter for Rs. 2, 3 or 5. This is not policy. If the objective is to save the environment and not to pretend in front of Geneva, we must prohibit the manufacture and import entirely. Anything short of an absolute polythene phase out is a betrayal of future generations and a mockery of what smaller Asian nations have already achieved with stronger national will.

In a lighter vein, are we to protect the environment banning polythene or go for paper bags and kill a tree?

Upali Weerasinghe