News
14 percent of paints sold here contain lead in excess of permitted limits
By Ifham Nizam
A study has revealed that 14% of paints tested in the country contain lead in excess of 90 ppm (the applicable standard in India, Nepal, the U.S., Canada and many other countries).
The report released yesterday by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), in association with the US based Occupational Knowledge (OK) International, tests were conducted on 37 paint products purchased from stores and online from 25 different manufacturers.
Samples of lacquer often used on children’s toys, murals and furniture in preschools, contained lead exceeding 90 ppm, the maximum allowed under existing regulations (Gazette Extra Ordinary No. 1725/30 on 30th September 2011). One anti-corrosive paint also contains lead in excess of standard of 600 ppm, according to Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage.
CEJ Executive Director Dilena Pathragoda said: “Our research shows that 16 out of 20 products belonging to SMEs have lead levels below 90 ppm. However, it is high time stringent standards standards were introduced for Sri Lankan paints and we urge the regulatory bodies to reduce the maximum permissible Lead level to 90 ppm in all types of paints, coatings, ceramic glazes, and inks.”
CEJ reminds all parents, teachers and caregivers to choose Lead Safe Paints for houses, preschools and the childcare facilities. They are advised to choose unpainted wooden or cloth toys when lead safety is not guaranteed.
“Anti-corrosive paint, sold in small containers in stores are often applied on window grills and outdoor railings in preschools, childcare facilities and households in Sri Lanka. As it deteriorates, it can easily contaminate the dust in households and preschools. Small children under six years that crawl and play on the floor can easily get exposed to lead in dust” said Chalani Rubesinghe, Project planning and management Officer, CEJ.
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can cause permanent and irreversible brain damage in children. Even at low levels of exposure children experience reduced intelligence and school performance, reduced attention span, impaired learning ability and behavioural problems. In adults lead effects many systems and is associated with deaths from increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
“CEJ’s campaign to eliminate lead in paint has been a tremendous success, but the current report shows that additional regulation and enforcement is needed to protect the public” said Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director, Occupational Knowledge (OK) International, USA. “Sri Lanka should ban the production, import, export, and use of lead chromate in line with requirements in the European Union.”
He told The Island that Sri Lanka should go all out to impose the 90 PPM limit.
On account of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action 2021, in association with IPEN this week, the CEJ reminds the public to select lead-safe paints.
The CEJ has played a leading role in bringing mandatory standards for Lead concentration in paint. The Consumer Affairs Authority set these limits as a result of the case filed by CEJ in 2011 based on research.
Accordingly, enamel and floor paints can have only 600 ppm of lead while the limit is 90 ppm for emulsion and paints used on children’s products, effected from 1st January 2013. It is also mandatory to declare on the label that the paint is lead safe.
Of the paints purchased only 24% of the samples had a required label indicating lead content as per the current standard (Gazette Notification No. 1985/ 38, dated 23rd September 2016).
The sample with the highest lead level (700 ppm) was labelled as lead safe (“Pb safe”) and another lacquer product with lead in excess of 90 ppm, was labelled “Pb free”.
The CEJ has called upon the Sri Lankan Consumer Affairs Authority to improve the monitoring of labeling practices in the paint market.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
