Sri Lanka, June 11 -- President A K Dissanayake's decision to ban single-use plastic water bottles, usually made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), effective from June 1, 2026 in the state sector is a welcome step towards reducing plastic pollution and protecting Sri Lanka's environment. However, limiting the ban to government institutions alone will have only a modest impact.

A significant proportion of single-use plastic bottle consumption occurs in the private sector, including offices, hotels, restaurants, factories and commercial establishments. Therefore, the private sector should voluntarily follow the Government's example by promoting reusable bottles, installing water dispensing facilities and adopting sustainable waste man...