The Consumer Affairs Authority has achieved a significant decrease in nationwide polythene usage through active intervention, reducing consumption by approximately 38 percent over a measured period.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced progress in reducing plastic consumption across Sri Lanka, reporting that polythene usage has dropped from 26 million units to 16 million units through coordinated intervention efforts. The reduction represents approximately 10 million fewer units entering the market, marking a notable achievement in the authority's environmental sustainability initiatives.

During a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on August 14, CAA officials outlined plans to sustain and accelerate these gains. The authority indicated that future efforts will focus on introducing viable alternatives to polythene, with the goal of further decreasing the environmental footprint of packaging materials used nationwide.

Beyond polythene reduction, CAA representatives emphasized their commitment to broader consumer protection objectives. Officials stated that the authority remains focused on maintaining vigilance regarding public concerns about food and beverage standards and pricing practices. These remarks came during discussions reviewing progress on projects funded under the 2026 budget allocations for the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, as well as preliminary considerations for the 2027 budget cycle.