From November 1, 2025, will no longer receive plastic shopping bags free of charge, as the government plans to introduce a regulation requiring a fee for such bags. This was informed to the Supreme Court today (01) by the Minister of Environment and other responsible authorities.
The announcement came during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice, which requested a court order to introduce measures to reduce the environmental damage caused by polythene use.
The case was heard before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, and Justice Sampath Abeykoon.
The Centre for Environmental Justice had earlier pointed out that although the Minister of Environment agreed on March 28, 2024, to impose a levy on plastic bags issued by supermarkets and other retail outlets, no steps had been taken to implement it.
Appearing for the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ravindranath Dabare argued that the government’s failure to act on its earlier commitment made the petition necessary.
Deputy Solicitor General Dr. Avanti Perera, representing the respondents, informed the court that a gazette notification would be issued to enforce a fee on plastic shopping bags from November 1.
Following this undertaking, the Centre for Environmental Justice agreed, and the case was accordingly concluded.
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