Sri Lanka amends List of Prescribed Activities requiring Licensing and Related Provisions 
On January 27, 2022, the Ministry of the Environment of Sri Lanka promulgated a regulation amending the list of prescribed activities requiring licensing and partially amending the relevant provisions of the National Environmental (Protection and Quality) Regulations, No. 1 of 2008. Following this amendment, license holders who carry out the prescribed activities are required to submit a detailed report before starting the activities and periodic reports on environmental risks. In addition, the table that determines the allowable discharge values for wastewater and waste liquid into the sea and coastal waters was replaced.
Examples of “prescribed activities”: chemical, fertilizer, or pesticide (insecticide or fungicide) manufacturing industry or pharmaceutical industry; synthetic rubber and natural rubber manufacturing and processing industry (with a production capacity of 100 kg/day or more); paint, ink, pigment and varnish manufacturing industry; battery manufacturing and recycling industry; glass manufacturing industry involving glass melting work; ceramic industry with 25 or more employees; automobile, tricycle, bicycle with prime mover, bicycle manufacturing industry; paper and pulp industry
The main contents of these amended regulations are as follows:
- Amended the list of prescribed activities requiring a license (attached table)
- In prescribed activities, it is permitted to discharge waste to the environment in a manner that does not cause pollution, but it is prohibited to discharge waste to designated pollution control zones.
- Depending on the circumstances, the competent authority shall determine parameters representative of contaminants, pollutants or other substances that cause emissions or waste, according to the criteria specified for the prescribed activity.
- The license holder must provide a report detailing the existing status and risk analysis of the site being used, the environmental risk management plan, evaluation criteria, and record-keeping methods prior to starting the prescribed activities. In addition, the license holder must submit periodic reports after starting the prescribed activities (quarterly/semi-annual/annual, etc., as listed in the license)
- Parameters such as chloride and silver have been added to the amended table, which sets allowable discharge values for wastewater and waste liquids into the sea and coastal waters.
The table containing the amended regulations and the list of prescribed activities requiring a license can be downloaded from the following URL (in English):
http://www.cea.lk/web/images/pdf/2022/Act/2264-17_E.pdf
http://www.cea.lk/web/images/pdf/2022/Act/2264-18_E.pdf
[Reference]
“National Environmental (Protection and Quality) Regulations, No. 1 of 2008”
http://www.cea.lk/web/images/pdf/envprotection/G_1534_18.pdf
“National Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980”
http://www.cea.lk/web/images/pdf/acts/act47-80.pdf
