The All Ceylon Small Industries Association has sounded the alarm over the existence of an estimated 400 to 500 illegal factories producing substandard and banned lunch sheets used for wrapping food across Sri Lanka.
Despite the nationwide ban on non-recyclable polythene lunch sheets—introduced due to their severe environmental impact—these manufacturers reportedly continue operations in secret.
National Organizer of the Association, Nirukshana Kumara, said that although the government introduced a compostable lunch sheet approved in Western countries, including Europe, it has failed to gain acceptance locally due to its unsuitability for Sri Lankan conditions and high cost. As a result, no local manufacturer produces the compostable alternative, and many vendors have rejected it.
Mr. Kumara also criticized officials of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), claiming they lack the technical expertise needed to identify and regulate illegal polythene products currently in circulation.
He further argued that the original 2017 ban on lunch sheets was introduced without adequate research or consultation, leading to ongoing enforcement failures.
The Association is urging the government to introduce hefty taxes on imported plastic bags and implement a nationwide recycling program for lunch sheets and other polythene-based products.
Kumara noted that Sri Lanka already recycles materials such as iron, cardboard, tires, textiles, paper and other waste products, stressing that establishing a proper recycling mechanism for lunch sheets is now a national responsibility.
