Starting today (1 November), traders across the country are required to charge consumers for plastic shopping bags with handles, commonly known as sili-sili bags.
The new rule stems from an Extraordinary Gazette issued by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) on 1 October 2025, under Section 10(1)(b)(ii) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 9 of 2003.
Under the directive, traders are prohibited from providing bags made of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) or Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) free of charge. The price of these bags must be clearly displayed at the store and printed on the customer’s bill.
The regulation defines “bags” as any handled bag, of any dimension, used to carry purchased goods.
The measure aims to discourage the widespread use of polythene bags, which have been identified as a major contributor to environmental degradation.
Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority, Professor Thilak Hewawasam, said the regulation marks an important step in promoting responsible consumption and waste reduction.
“The gazette prohibits the free distribution of sili-sili bags from 1 November. Traders must now charge consumers for them,” he explained. “Consumers, too, have a responsibility to protect the environment by bringing reusable bags when shopping.”
The move forms part of broader national efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote environmentally sustainable habits among consumers.
