Public participation in environmental governance is important factor in environmental decision making in a country. Through this analysis it was briefly analysed the current public participation and their contribution in a selected area.

1. (A brief Sociological study)

2. • Supervision & Guidance -
• Manipulation -W. M .K . Kalhara
2014/s/14807
12329s
Students of four year General Degree
program
Business & Environment Theme
Dept. of Zoology and Environmental
science
Faculty of Science
University of Colombo
Prof. Kamal Waleboda
Senior Lecturer
Journalism Unit
University of Colombo
Sri Lanka
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3. 1. Objectives
2. Introduction
2.1: Public participation in environmental governance .
2.2: Recent regulations on controlling of polythene and plastic usage in Sri
Lanka.
2.3: Short term, midterm and long term measures.
2.4: Main objectives of the regulations.
3. Methodology
3.1: Study areas
3.2: Demographic profiles of respondents
4. Results
4.1: Identifying the current usage of polythene and plastic.
4.2: Identifying nature of the usage of polythene and plastic.
4.3: Identify the current practices of the disposal of polythene and plastic
wastes.
4.4: Identifying the Problems associated with the usage of plastic and polythene.
4.5: Identify the public participation through the awareness of current
regulations on the usage of the polythene and plastic.
4.6: Public feedback of the Regional Programs for controlling Polythene and
plastic.
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations
Outline
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4. • To analyze the public opinion including,
– Current polythene usage
– Level of awareness
– Polythene disposal practices
– Feedback on regional programs
of the recent regulations on controlling of
polythene and plastic in Sri Lanka through the
better public participation.
1.0: Objective
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5. 2.0: Introduction
• Involvement of interested or affected public groups
due to any environmental problem, for decision
making, prior to the political decision taking.
• Environmental problems cannot be solved by
governments alone.
• Public are at the root of both causes and solutions of
environmental problems.
• Public participation is a crucial element in
environmental governance that contributes to better
decision making and implementing.
2.1: Public participation in environmental
governance
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6. • To find a sustainable solution to solid waste
management problem in Sri Lanka through the
enhancement of reusability, recyclability of polythene
films and products by increasing the thickness of the
polythene.
• To minimize environmental and health impacts due to
thin Polythene films and products of plastics.
• To motivate entrepreneurs to produce alternatives
and public to use environmentally friendly alternatives
with aid of traditional knowledge.
2.2: Why it is needed to control polythene in Sri
Lanka ?
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7. 06
• Indiscriminate
burning of polythene
and plastic causes to
huge air pollution and
long term human
health problems.
• Growing risk on
wildlife survival due
to the wildlife
feeding of polythene
and plastic wastes in
garbage dump sites.
• Many of plastic and polythene related waste products
are provided good places for breeding of dengue
mosquito.

8. • CEA has banned the use, sale and production of
polythene, lunch sheets, rig foam boxes and
shopping bags equals or less than 20 microns,
with effect from 1st of September 2017 under the
advices of current government.
• Short term, medium term, and long term
measures recommended by the committee of
intellectuals appointed to study ways of managing
polythene use to minimize its environmental
impacts.
2.3: Recent regulations on controlling of
polythene and plastic usage in Sri Lanka
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9. 2.4: Short term, midterm and long term measures
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Source:GovernmentalInformationCenter.
STGraphics:NalinBalasuriya
Abstract:http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170723/news

10. In addition to the above main regulation the Government of Sri Lanka
has taken a number of policy decisions through another 5 Gazette Extra
ordinaries,
• Prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge,
exhibition or use of food wrappers or lunch sheets manufactured
from polythene
• Prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge,
exhibition or use of any bag includes grocery bags generally referred
to as “sili - sili bags‘‘ manufactured from high density polyethylene
• Prohibit the burn openly or cause to, allow or permit the open
burning of refuse or other combustible matters inclusive of plastics.
• Prohibit the use of all forms of polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyethylene products or polypropylene products as decoration in
political, social, religious, national, cultural or any other event or
occasion.
• Prohibit the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, offer free of charge,
exhibition or use of food containers or lunch boxes, plates, cups and
spoons manufactured from expanded polystyrene.
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11. • Primary information - questionnaire survey,
interviews and discussions with plastic and
polythene consumers.
– Selected a particular study area(Nugawela East area)
– To collect the data, semi structured questionnaire was
prepared in Sinhala Medium.
– Conducted a public survey on 09.11.2017.
– Collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel
software - version 2010.
• Secondary information - books, newspapers
articles, magazines, Gazette notifications, and
online information.
3.0: Methodology
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12. 3.1: Study areas
Figure 3.1 – Satellite view of the Kahawatta city
(Source: Google Earth –Satellite view Application)
• located at 145 Km
away from Colombo
• Population ≈ 1356
• Male ≈ 677
Female ≈ 679
• Latitude =
6°34'57.18"N and
Longitude =
80°34'27.83"E
• Elevation = 21 m
(69 ft.) above sea level
Kahawatta City area
Study area
(Nugawela East)
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13. Variable Categories
No. of
responders
Percentage
(%)
Gender Female 16 47.1
Male 18 52.9
Total 34 100
Age < 20 2 5.9
21 - 40 16 47.1
41 - 60 11 32.4
61< 5 14.7
Total 34 100
Educational
level
Illiterate 0 0
Grade 8 passed 3 8.8
GCE Ordinary level passed 12 35.3
GCE Advanced level passed 7 20.6
Higher Education 12 35.3
Total 34 100
3.2: Demographic profiles of respondents
Table 3.1 - Demographic profiles of respondents of questionnaire survey in
Nugawela east area of Kahawatta city
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14. 4.1: Identifying the current usage of polythene and
plastic.
4.0: Survey results
Use
91%
Do not use
9%
Figure 4.1 – Nature of the current plastic and polythene usage (Nugawela East
area in Kahawatta city).
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15. 4.2: Identifying nature of the usage of polythene and
plastic.
Shoping bags /
Sili bags
40%
Lunch sheets
29%
Polythene
sheets
8%
Plastic bottles
20%
Rig form lunch
box
3%
Figure 4.2 - Types of polythene and plastic products, highly (commonly) used.
(Nugawela East area in Kahawatta city).
Note - Multiple responses were possible.
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16. 4.3: Identifying the current practices of the disposal
of polythene and plastic wastes.
Burning
36%
Burying
16%
Handover
to Local
authority
33%
Dump
anywhere
15%
Figure 4.3 - Practices of disposal of
polythene and plastic. (Nugawela
East area in Kahawatta city)
Note - Multiple responses were
possible.
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Eco-friedly
method
8%
Hram to the
environmet
83%
No special
idea
9%
Figure 4.4 – Public opinion on
practices of disposal of polythene
and plastic. (Nugawela East area in
Kahawatta city)

17. 4.4: Identifying the Problems associated with the
usage of plastic and polythene
Humen health
problems
29%
Blockage of
sewage and
drainage
sysytems
18%
Deterioration of
environmental
beauty and
aesthetic aspect
35%
Animal feedings
and increased
animal death
18%
Not aware about
any problem
0%
Figure 4.5 - Problems associated with the usage of plastic and polythene.
(Nugawela East area in Kahawatta city)
Note - Multiple responses were possible.
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18. 4.5: Identifying the public participation through the
awareness of current regulations on the usage of
the polythene and plastic.
Know(aw
ared)
88%
Not
know
yet(not
awared)
12%
Figure 4.6 - The public awareness on
the recent regulations on banning/
controlling of use, sale and
production of polythene and plastic
(Nugawela East area in Kahawatta
city)
News
papers
22%
Social
Media
18%
Television
51%
Awareness
programms
from the
Ministry of
Health
7%
Police
0%
Other
2%
Figure 4.7 - The Media exposure or
contribution to communicate the
message of controlling polythene and
plastics. (Nugawela East area in
Kahawatta city)
Note - Multiple responses were
possible.
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19. 4.6: Public feedback on the Regional Programs for
controlling Polythene and plastic.
Programms
in
operation
38%No
programs
62%
Figure 4.8 - The public awareness of the regional programs which already in
operation to control the usage of the polythene and plastic
(Nugawela East area in Kahawatta city)
Real situation - There is no clear regional program to control the usage of
polythene and plastic in the study area. But there is solid waste
management program by Local Authority of Kahawatta.
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20. • Majority, regardless of their demographic
background, are in favor of banning of polythene
and has a considerable awareness.
• Polythene bags are still widely used than any other
plastic products due to easy availability and
cheapness.
• Burning of the polythene and plastic is most
frequent disposal method in the study area.
• Various campaigns need to be organized further, in
order to mobilize the public and other stakeholders
against indiscriminate use and disposal of
polythene and plastic.
• New regulations will appears to be effective with a
considerable public participation.
5.0: Conclusions
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21. • The necessary national level programs should be
launched to promote the usages of alternatives among
the general public.
• The awareness programs should be strengthen and
organized for school children, university students and
other interested groups.
• Introduce the facts on the impacts of the plastic and
polythene usage into the school syllabus.
• Attitudes & knowledge of general public on post-
consumer plastic waste management should be developed
towards the 3R concept.
• Necessary advices such as CEA standards should be
regularly communicated to the consumers to buy
alternatives.
• Introduction of the rules and regulations that make
compulsory the manufactures to label their products with
necessary details such as thickness and category etc.
6.0: Recommendations
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22. • Gazette Extraordinary, Central Environmental Authority, http://www.
CEA.lk
• Statistical Information, http://www.kahawatta.ds.gov.lk
• What is polythene, Online [Available]:http://www.wisegeek.org/what-
is-polyethylene.htm
• Hans, George Elias. (2005). "Plastics General Survey", in Uliman's
Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi: 10/1002/14356007.
Cambridge press.
• Gunaratna D.N.J.C.J (2012), “Analysis on Future Trends of Plastic
Recycling in Sri Lanka”, Department of Forestry and Environmental
Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Chap.1,2 and 3,
pp. 4 – 38
• Hans, George Elias. (2005). "Plastics General Survey", in Uliman's
Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi: 10/1002/14356007.
Cambridge press.
• Malwana C. , Deputy Project Director, Pilisaru National Solid Waste
Management Project, Central Environmental Authority , “Solid Waste
Management in Sri Lanka” , Online
[Available]:http://dl.nsf.ac.lk/bitstream/handle/1/14093/ER-34(3-4)-
34.pdf etc.
References
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23. I gratefully acknowledge,
• Prof. Kamal Waleboda (Supervisor of the Assignment)
• Dr. N. Pallewatta (Coordinator, Business & Environment-
4G )
• Gramasewa officer - Nugwela East
• Officers, Local Authority Kahawatta
• All the residents including respondents
• Ms. Madhuka (Assistant lecturer of Business and
Environment 4G Theme)
• All the academic and non academic staff of the
Department of Zoology and Environmental Science
Acknowledgement
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