Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says that a Cabinet paper will be submitted to ban eight other items including polythene bags that are harmful to the environment.
The Minister stated that this also includes plastic hopper holders, plastic dishes, plastic cups and plastic spoons.
The Minister was addressing the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment in Parliament on Thursday.
Furthermore, Amaraweera stated that the law banning lunch sheets will be strictly enforced with effect from September 1. He instructed the officers to increase the number of raids with regard to the above.
The Committee paid special attention to the unauthorized construction of a hotel along the Mahaweli River in the Gannoruwa area. Parliamentarian Wasantha Yapa Bandara stated that this has been constructed by a powerful businessman in the area and as a result many environmental problems have been created.
He further stated that the failure of the relevant institutions to take appropriate action in this regard is a serious problem.
The Committee recommended that a special discussion be held on this matter expeditiously and that it is appropriate to conduct an observation tour of the site.
There are many unauthorized constructions on both sides of the Mahaweli River and special attention should be paid to remove them, said Parliamentarian Wasantha Yapa Bandara. He further stated that unauthorized constructions were often carried out on long weekends and the legal provisions available to local authorities to stop them were minimal.
The Chairman of the Committee also instructed the officials to pay special attention to matters as such while amending the Environment Act.
The damage caused by the creation of islands along the Mahaweli River due to human activities is quite significant, the Parliamentarian pointed out.
The Chairman of the Committee Minister Mahinda Amaraweera stated that a special program under the 'Surakimu Ganga' National Programme to protect 103 rivers throughout the country has already been launched on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Accordingly, the marking of the Kelani River reserve has already commenced, he said.
The need to conduct an environmental audit covering all major cities in the country was also discussed at the Committee meeting.
Members of Parliament Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, Amarakeerthi Athukorala, Kings Nelson, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha and a number of Government officials were present at this Committee Meeting
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