Bring your own bag to book fair, CEA urges

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has called on attendees of the upcoming Colombo International Book Fair to bring reusable bags for carrying their purchased books. Director General R. S. P. Kapila Rajapaksha noted that previous fairs have seen an excessive use of plastic bags, particularly the "sili sili" ones. He urged visitors to use environmentally friendly, reusable bags to help reduce single-use plastic waste and protect the environment.

The book fair is scheduled to open on September 25, and the CEA, along with the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association, have launched an awareness program focusing on "Read Smart, Carry Smart". This program targets book sellers, food vendors, and visitors, aiming to reduce the use of polythene and plastic throughout the exhibition.

Under the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, the use of plastic bags is regulated. Gazette Extraordinary No. 2456/41, dated October 1, 2025, prohibits the free distribution of handled "sili sili" bags, requiring any sale to include a charge in the customer's bill. Food outlets at the book fair must also comply with regulations prohibiting various single-use plastic products, such as plastic straws, stirrers, disposable plates, cups, utensils, and polythene food wrappers.

The CEA has coordinated with stakeholders to ensure these regulations are adhered to at food outlets within the exhibition premises. The authority urges both traders and visitors to cooperate in making this year's book fair a more environmentally responsible event.