Presidential Elections 2019 – Lets call for a poster, free, polythene free and plastic free election

As we enter into the month of August, we are just days away from the main political parties announcing their presidential candidates. 

With just months away from a crucial presidential election, parties have begun discussing their strategies on how to implement their presidential campaigns in order to spread their future policies and pledges amongst the public.

Indeed the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), if elected, are working on implementing several new proposals considering the economic crisis Sri Lanka currently is in. The four year term of the UNP government has not only dampened Sri Lanka’s development but they have also compromised our national security so much so that over 250 innocent people lost their lives in the brutal terrorist attacks on April 21.

Election campaigning is always an important time for all political parties. It is also a time when parties spend huge costs on life size cut outs, posters, plastic and polythene. Ofcourse the polythene strips which adorn our streets, showing different political party colors during election time has now become an attraction for all locals and tourists, but when we consider the damage polythene does to the environment, it is shocking.

This year, considering how Sri Lanka is a victim of ocean pollution and climate change, I would like to request all political parties in Sri Lanka, including the SLPP to take measures to launch their campaigns with zero use of posters, plastic and polythene and refrain from using all other products which will harm the environment and add to Sri Lanka’s rising garbage crisis.

Sri Lanka, has in recent years faced a severe crisis over its rising garbage with no solution reached by the UNP government. In-fact talks of setting up recycling plants or inviting foreign investors to deal with our waste management has only remained a talk. 

But keeping aside the blame game, it is the responsibility of each and every citizen to avoid using plastic and polythene so that we too can make our own contribution in keeping the environment clean. And politicians need to lead by setting an example.

In today’s day and age, political parties do not need to use polythene, posters or plastic to win an election. We are in an era where technology plays a crucial role in everyone’s lives. Today this very technology conveys messages across the globe in a matter of seconds. Therefore in this day and age pasting posters across walls on roads etc, serves no purpose. Infact people cast their votes considering the talent and wit of the politician. Not on the amount of posters pasted across the country.

If politicians take this step and refrain from using posters, polythene and plastic this upcoming election, citizens will follow. Sri Lanka is already one of the leading countries dumping their garbage in the oceans. In-fact as I have reported earlier, there is a huge dead zone expanding in the Bay of Bengal which has killed valuable marine life. This dead zone is now expanding in our eastern seas, which will pose as a huge threat to marine life, fishermen and even our tourism.

Recently, we launched the #FitSriLanka movement where we are encouraging citizens to stay healthy by promoting sports, staying fit by eating healthy, staying fit by making social changes and staying fit by keeping our environment clean. We hope to spread this message around the country so that Sri Lankans realize the importance of the message being promoted by this organization. 

This election, through the #FitSriLanka movement I am urging political parties to adopt a polythene free, poster free and plastic free campaign so that our nation prospers and we too can do our bit to protect the environment.