Waste management and recycling to receive priority in the 2027 Budget – PM

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya announced that the upcoming 2027 Budget will prioritize waste management, reduction, and recycling. She stressed the importance of leaving a clean environment for future generations, free from contaminated soil and plastic-filled seas. At the 3rd International Conference on “Plastic, Innovation and Environmental Sustainability,” the Prime Minister highlighted that plastic pollution is a global challenge tied to the climate crisis.

She emphasized that uncontrolled waste accumulation and disposal pose threats to public life and the environment, and that economic development cannot be justified if it destroys natural resources. Several major projects, including the “Pivithuru Purawara” National Waste Management Project, will be implemented under the Clean Sri Lanka national programme, with a cost of Rs.

34 billion. The project aims to minimize non-biodegradable waste, particularly plastic, while expanding recycling and compost production. The Prime Minister stressed that laws and regulations alone are not enough for environmental protection; environmental responsibility must be instilled through education. She also mentioned that new education reforms will integrate environmental education, plastic and waste management, and circular economy concepts into the school curriculum.

The "Green Schools" initiative will be promoted, encouraging children to adopt "Zero Waste" practices from a young age. The Prime Minister called for an interdisciplinary approach among universities and researchers to develop practical solutions to these challenges. The event was attended by the Vice Chancellor of The Open University of Sri Lanka, professors, local and international researchers, and Ministry of Environment officials, along with university students.