Sri Lanka aims to produce fuel from discarded plastic, polythene

COLOMBO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan government on Tuesday said that plans to implement a new project in the island country to produce fuel from plastic, polythene and discarded fishing nets is underway.

State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Dilip Wedaarachchi told a public meeting that the project will be launched close to one of the island's fisheries harbors.

He said fishermen who were engaged in deep sea fishing, discarded plastic bottles, polythene and old fishing nets in large qualities into the sea, thereby polluting the ocean as well as harming marine life.

The minister said that through this project, fishermen will be encouraged to hand over their discarded plastic bottles, polythene and fishing nets to the fisheries harbour in order to produce fuel.

The support of several ministries will be sought to make this project a success.