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Haphazard disposal of used face masks pose major environmental risk: Kelaniya prof.
Sri Lanka’s environment is facing a looming threat owing to haphazard disposal of millions of used face masks and personal protective equipment, reveals a recent study by the University of Kelaniya.
“Mostly, face masks are made of petroleum-based non-renewable polymers that are non-biodegradable, hazardous to the environment and create health issues. It is reported that Sri Lanka generates around 14 to 70 million face mask waste a week,” said Prof Rangika Bandara, Director of the Centre for Sustainability Solutions of the University’s Department of Zoology and Environmental Management.
She said: “We should understand that disposable face masks which are commonly known as surgical face masks or K-95 masks contain polypropylene which is a popular kind of plastic. According to study findings, a K-95 mask contains about 9 grams of polypropylene and this value is around 4.5 gram in a surgical face mask. By looking at these numbers, it is estimated that as a country Sri Lanka emits 47,185 tons of polypropylene per week to the environment through face masks only.”
“Plastic is considered as a non-biodegradable material as it takes over 500 years to get rid of it from the environment. Disposing facemasks inappropriately on different land surfaces will gradually end up in rivers, lakes, ponds, forests and other vegetation, agricultural fields and finally in oceans by washing them off with runoff and surface flooding and also by wind,” she said.
Prof Bandara said that disposal of used face masks along with other disposable personal protective equipment pose serious risks to valuable global eco-systems creating threats to public health.
According to the health experimental results, wearing a face mask will reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus by 47% by acting as a particle filter and by minimising the number of times an individual touches the face/mouth/nose with unwashed hands. Therefore, WHO has recommended wearing a suitable face mask appropriately at public places and when interacting with COVID infected or suspected cases.
Also, according to the WHO estimates nearly 89 million face masks are needed worldwide to control COVID 19 each month.
While the soil is contaminated with plastics, soil texture and structure will be altered and become unsuitable for plant growth hence with time, we will not be able to harvest expected yields from agricultural fields. On that day the damage will become irreversible. Not only the soil but also clogging drainage and irrigation channels by waste face masks can be expected.
Currently, most of the irrigation and drainage channels in the country, especially in urban areas are already clogged by invasive aquatic weeds such as Eichornia (japan jabara) and Salvinia creating a huge social and environmental problem. Inappropriate disposal of face masks will trigger the problem as they associate with water weeds creating a mesh thereby further blocking water passages. If that is the case, flash floods in cities even in light rains would be unavoidable which is a significant economic loss and greater impact on livelihood specially those who have settled along the water canals.
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
