Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi has urged the public to refrain from using plastic and polythene in Vesak decorations and celebrations, ahead of the festival later this month.
The Minister stressed the importance of minimising single-use plastics, particularly when organising and serving at dansals (free food stalls), as well as during other Vesak-related activities. He appealed to the public to voluntarily support efforts to reduce environmental pollution caused by non-biodegradable waste during the festive period.
However, in a notable departure from earlier enforcement-oriented messaging, Patabendi clarified that no legal action will be taken against individuals who use such materials. The framing positions the ministerial intervention as a moral appeal rather than a regulatory threat.
The Minister’s statement follows a similar appeal earlier this week by the Central Environmental Authority, which warned that several plastic and polythene items used during Vesak — including straws, cups, plates, polystyrene food containers, lunch sheets and decorative materials made from polyethylene or polypropylene — are prohibited under gazette regulations from 2017 and 2023, with sale or display potentially attracting legal action against vendors.
The contrast between the Ministry’s voluntary-compliance line and the CEA’s enforcement language reflects the practical reality that Vesak dansals and pandals are run overwhelmingly by community groups, temples and small organisers who have historically been outside the reach of plastic-ban prosecutions. Single-use plastics remain widely available at retail level, particularly in suburban and rural markets.
Vesak Poya, observed by Sri Lanka’s Buddhist majority to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, falls on May 31 this year, and is traditionally one of the largest single-day consumption events in the country.
