The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has urged the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka to ensure that charges imposed on shopping bags are directed to the government’s Environmental Conservation Levy Fund instead of private accounts.

The case, taken up on Friday (15), relates to concerns over the continued use of shopping bags and single-use plastics contributing to environmental pollution.

In 2020, following a petition filed by the CEJ, the Supreme Court ordered a ban on the free distribution of shopping bags and directed that a fee be charged according to bag size. Currently, consumers are charged Rs. 3 and Rs. 5 per bag.

However, the CEJ argued that under the Environmental Conservation Levy Act, the collected money should be credited to the government levy fund rather than retained by supermarkets and shop owners.

The organization told court that the current practice violates the law and infringes on public rights.

The matter was heard before Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli and Sampath Wijeratne, who fixed the next hearing for November 3, 2026.

Respondents in the case include Finance Minister and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Minister of Environment, the Central Environmental Authority and the Consumer Affairs Authority.