Chemicals

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) intends to reduce and eliminate persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by enhancing public awareness and increasing civil society`s involvement in POPs-related activities. CEJ recognizes that though POPs were banned from Sri Lanka since 1996, products are still available in a number of storerooms and warehouses that could be used by farmers who are not aware of POPs` negative effects on the environment. CBOs, NGOs and other civil society organizations can play a meaningful role in creating awareness on POPs in the community. However, in order to play that role, they themselves need to be aware of the issues and the challenges. Therefore it is critical that the public and the government be educated on the harmful, long-lasting effects of POPs. One way to increase awareness is to produce documents such as books, leaflets and posters in the local languages (Sinhala and Tamil). CEJ plans to produce a toolkit that can be shared amongst the public and the government. The toolkit will contain books, stickers, posters and other items that will encourage people to learn more about POPs. CEJ also will send a poster about POPs to every Divisional Secretariat to display on their notice boards. Additionally, foreign films on POPs will be translated into local languages. CEJ will identify local POPs hotspots in order to focus their work. They have most recently identified Kalpitiya as one location and will continue their research. CEJ intends to produce a local documentary on POPs as well, with assistance from the Independent Television Network, who will provide technical expertise. CEJ also obtained the cooperation of the Ceylon Electricity Board and Lanka Electric Company at Kegalle, Colombo and Nuwara Eliya Districts in order to prepare an inventory on PCB-related equipment.

Sri lanka