Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardena says a refund will be provided when individuals return bottles of drinking water purchased from Sathosa outlets in future.
Speaking during a media briefing in Colombo today, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said Sathosa stores will provide Rs. 10 refund for every used 500ml drinking water bottle.
The Minister said the new measure will also reduce costs of government institutions, statutory bodies and other departments.
He said a 500ml bottled drinking water will be sold for Rs. 35 while state institutions will receive a discount of 17.22 percent for bulk purchases which will be an additional saving of Rs. 6 per bottle.
Minister Bandula Gunawardena noted that when such bottles are returned a further Rs.10 will be paid and therefore government institutions will have to pay only Rs. 19 per 500ml bottled drinking water.
He said the refund programme is expected to encourage people to retain their used bottles which will also help reduce environmental pollution.
