Money for Sili Sili bags: Setting the record straight

As of 1st November, the free distribution of "Sili Sili" (shopping) bags has officially come to an end.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

Kapila Mahesh Rajapaksha

Acting under a directive issued by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), supermarkets and other retail outlets across Sri Lanka have begun charging customers for the thin, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags handed over at cashier counters.

The move — part of a long-delayed effort to curb plastic pollution — has already shown encouraging signs. Within just two days of implementation, the daily circulation of shopping bags across the island has dropped significantly, according to the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).

"This is a long-awaited step towards changing public behaviour," said Kapila Mahesh Rajapaksha, Director General of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).

The Director General told The Island: "For years, we've tried to reduce the dependence on single-use plastics, but awareness alone wasn't enough. Now, we finally see a measurable decline in daily plastic waste generation."

The policy was the result of coordinated efforts by multiple institutions — including the Ministry of Environment, the CEA, the Waste Management Division, the Legal Affairs Division, and the Consumer Affairs Authority — all supported by the proactive intervention of the Deputy Solicitor General's office.