The SLS rules, in plain words ජල බෝතල් සඳහා SLS සහතික නීතිය

Since April 2026, plastic bottles on Sri Lanka's shelves need a certification mark. Here's what the rule covers, what it means for your family, and why glass bottles sit outside it.

Effective 1 Apr 2026 SLS 1616 · SLS 1306 State offices: 31 May 2026

How we got here

The gazette timeline නියෝග කාලරේඛාව

1 Oct 2025

The gazette is published

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) publishes the directive: reusable plastic water bottles must meet SLS 1616, polymer feeding bottles must meet SLS 1306, and both must carry the SLS certification mark from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

1 Nov 2025

Plastic bags get priced

A companion CAA rule ends free polythene bags and introduces charges — the same cleanup drive, one step earlier.

1 Apr 2026

The rule takes effect In force

Uncertified plastic drinking and feeding bottles can no longer be manufactured, imported or sold. Imported bottles must pass SLSI's import inspection scheme before entering the market. Certified plastic now costs more at the shelf.

31 May 2026

Government offices join In force

Single-use plastic water bottles are banned at state institutions. Offices are switching to glass — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself issued a procurement tender for 500 ml glass water bottles.

The official line is public safety, especially for children — and it lands on top of studies that found microplastics in commercially bottled water in Sri Lanka. This page is a plain-language summary; check the original gazette for legal wording.

The two standards

SLS 1616 and SLS 1306 සම්මත දෙක

SLS 1616

Reusable plastic drinking bottles — the everyday bottles kids and offices carry. Must carry the SLS mark since 1 Apr 2026.

SLS 1306

Polymer feeding bottles for infants — same effective date. For babies, glass feeding bottles are widely available and easy to sterilize.

Glass?

Outside the rule. Glass water bottles — wasa bothal — don't need the mark, which is exactly why the shelf moved towards them.

What it means for you

Two ways to respond ඔබේ පවුලට මෙයින් තේරුම්

If you stay with plastic

Look for the SLS mark on the bottle or packaging. Uncertified stock being sold now is either old stock or illegal stock. Expect certified plastic bottles to cost noticeably more than before — that's the certification cost.

If you switch to glass

You step outside the rule entirely — and out of the microplastic debate. A thick-wall glass bottle costs about the same as one certified plastic bottle and lasts years. See live picks on the buyer's guide →

Glass bottles on Daraz →

FAQ

Questions parents ask දෙමාපියන් අසන ප්‍රශ්න

Is the SLS mark on water bottles mandatory?
Yes — from 1 April 2026 for reusable plastic drinking bottles (SLS 1616) and polymer feeding bottles (SLS 1306). No mark means the bottle can't legally be made, imported or sold.
Do glass bottles need the SLS mark?
No. The rule covers plastic drinking bottles and polymer feeding bottles. Glass bottles are outside it — one reason families are switching to wasa bothal.
Are single-use plastic bottles banned in government offices?
Yes, from 31 May 2026. Institutions are buying glass and reusable alternatives instead — the Foreign Ministry tendered for 500 ml glass water bottles.
What's the safest bottle for children?
Glass or stainless steel. If plastic, check the SLS mark. For school use, see the sturdy picks on the School Deals page.

Rules understood — pick the bottle දැන් බෝතලය තෝරන්න

Live price comparison and the five-point checklist take two minutes.

Buyer's Guide School term deals →