The Central Environmental Authority is developing new regulations to tackle noise pollution under proposed environmental legislation, which would classify violations as arrestable offences.

Sri Lanka's Central Environmental Authority is working on comprehensive new regulations to address noise pollution, according to Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe. The initiative forms part of a broader proposed Environmental Act aimed at strengthening the country's environmental oversight. Currently in the planning phase, these regulations have not yet been implemented.

Under the proposed framework, noise pollution violations would be classified as offences that warrant arrest without warrant, significantly expanding enforcement powers currently available to authorities. This represents a considerable tightening of existing controls, which operate through regulations and standards under the National Environmental Act alongside limited police powers in specific circumstances.

Noise pollution has emerged as a persistent public concern in Sri Lanka, with widespread complaints directed at excessive sound levels from loudspeakers, entertainment venues, construction sites, industrial operations, and other sources located near residential areas. The CEA's new approach aims to establish clearer enforcement mechanisms to address these grievances more effectively than the current fragmented regulatory framework.

However, the regulatory changes remain in preliminary stages and must navigate the required legal approval processes before enforcement becomes possible. The timeline for implementation and the specific provisions of the new regulations have not been disclosed.