Sri Lanka, Aug. 30 -- The Ministry of Environment has urged the public to reduce and eventually move away from single-use plastic water bottles, warning that plastic waste can remain in the environment for hundreds of years and cause long-term harm to ecosystems and human health.

The Ministry called on citizens to adopt more environmentally friendly alternatives, including reusable glass and durable water bottles, stressing that protecting a clean, green and sustainable environment for future generations is a shared responsibility.

As part of efforts to reduce plastic consumption, the Ministry said a special circular introduced with its intervention came into effect on May 31, 2026, limiting the procurement and use of single-use plasti...