Controls on asbestos: use, import, manufacture

The proposal by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to control the use and import of asbestos, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The use and import of asbestos will thereby be controlled from 01-01-2018, and an operational programme to prohibit the asbestos related production by 01-01-2024 and use of more beneficial substitutes will be implemented. 

Asbestos is used mostly as roofing sheets in Sri Lanka. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified asbestos as being carcinogenic.