http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4268 2026-10-09T17:05:49Z http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4283 Reforming Plastic Waste Governance in Sri Lanka: A Critical Legal Analysis through Comparative Environmental Law and the Right to Life M.S.D.Fernnado, M.S.D.Fernnado Abstract— Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental and public health challenges in Sri Lanka, threatening ecosystems, biodiversity, public health, and sustainable development. Despite the existence of several regulatory measures under the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 and related Gazette Notifications restricting single-use plastics, Sri Lanka’s plastic waste governance framework remains fragmented, weakly enforced, and institutionally inconsistent. This study critically examines the inadequacies of the existing legal and policy framework governing plastic waste in Sri Lanka through a comparative environmental law approach, with particular emphasis on the protection of the right to life. The study argues that ineffective plastic waste governance not only contributes to environmental degradation but also undermines fundamental human rights by exposing communities to hazardous waste, polluted waterways, flooding, marine contamination, and health-related risks associated with plastic disposal and microplastic exposure. Employing a qualitative doctrinal methodology supported by comparative analysis, the paper evaluates legal models adopted in India and the European Union, particularly Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), lifecycle regulation, and circular economy-based approaches to plastic governance. The paper further analyses the constitutional and human rights dimensions of environmental protection by examining the evolving recognition of environmental rights within comparative jurisprudence and international human rights law. It contends that Sri Lanka’s current regulatory regime lacks an integrated legal mechanism capable of ensuring accountability, sustainability, and effective enforcement. Accordingly, the study proposes comprehensive legal and institutional reforms, including the enactment of a unified Plastic Waste Management Act, incorporation of statutory EPR obligations, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and adopting rights-based environmental governance strategies. The study ultimately concludes that meaningful reform of Sri Lanka’s plastic waste governance framework is essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for safeguarding the right to life and ensuring intergenerational environmental protection. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4281 Sri Lanka’s Energy Transition: Progress, Emerging Risks, and Pathways to Sustainability Premachandra, N.G.P.R.; Wickramasinghe, B.M.G.S.T.S.K.; Thilakarathna, H.P.D.C.; Nanayakkara, K.K.H. Sri Lanka's energy sector is undergoing a significant transition, driven by rising electricity demand, continued dependence on imported fossil fuels, and ambitious renewable energy (RE) targets. Electricity generation reached approximately 17.8 TWh (17,800 GWh) in 2025, reflecting continued growth in electricity demand and generation capacity. Renewable energy sources, led by hydropower and increasingly supplemented by solar and wind power, account for a substantial share of the country's electricity generation. Sri Lanka has set a target of achieving 70% renewable electricity generation by 2030. This paper reviews current electricity consumption patterns and demand drivers, the potential and utilization of renewable energy resources, their contributions to sustainability and energy security, emerging market and investment opportunities, and key challenges, including grid stability, renewable-energy intermittency, limited energy-storage capacity, financing constraints, and policy and regulatory uncertainty. Evidence-based recommendations are provided for policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders to support the development of a resilient, secure, and low- carbon energy future for Sri Lanka. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.ou.ac.lk/handle/123456789/4279 The Role of Green Accounting in Supporting Climate Action and SDG 13 in Sri Lanka: A Systematic Literature Review Jayalath, K.D.D.; Weerabangsa, M.Z.; Athapattu, B.C. L. Climate change presents a critical economic, social, and environmental challenge globally. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 calls for urgent national and organizational climate action. However, conventional financial accounting systems routinely fail to capture environmental costs and physical climate risks, leaving organizational decision-makers without actionable data. To address this limitation, green accounting has emerged as key strategic tool. This paper presents a systematic literature review evaluating how green accounting practices support climate action and advance SDG 13, with a contextual focus on Sri Lanka. Following a PRISMA- compliant methodology, literature was retrieved across six academic databases alongside official Sri Lankan policy repositories for the primary period 2021–2026 (with key institutional policies traced back to 2016), resulting in a final synthesis of 96 sources. Analysis revealed six core themes: the conceptual evolution of green accounting; operational green accounting practices; the integration of climate mitigation and adaptation metrics; alignment with specific SDG 13 targets; Sri Lanka’s policy and regulatory framework; and primary implementation barriers. Findings demonstrate strong alignment between green accounting practices and SDG Target 13.2 (integrating climate measures into national policies). Alignment with Target 13.1 (strengthening resilience through risk disclosure) is emerging but less developed, whereas research addressing Target 13.3 (capacity building) remains largely underrepresented. In Sri Lanka, progressive policy mechanisms including the National Environmental Action Plan 2022–2030, updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the National Green Reporting System exist, yet organizational- level accounting infrastructure remains insufficient, revealing a pronounced policy-practice gap. This paper establishes an integrated conceptual framework while outlining key directions for future empirical research. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z