The Environment Ministry said that of 1,730 kilogrammes of garbage collected in Anuradhapura during the Poson season, the major components were plastic and polythene. It was the highest garbage collection even though fewer pilgrims participated, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

There were also 104 kilogrammes of polythene and plastic collected in the Polonnaruwa sacred city.

"The Ministry had, prior to the commencement of the festival, created awareness among the general public about plastic and polythene. However, we distributed around 3,000 bags to collect reusable plastics under the ‘Pilisaru’ garbage management project of the Central Environmental Authority. They were handed to garbage recycling centers and they paid for it. The money has been distributed among the labourers who collected the garbage," Ranawaka said.

Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority Udaya Gammanpila said that two garbage recycling centers had been established in Anuradhapura under the ‘Pilisaru’ garbage management project.

The ‘Pilisaru’ project aims at a garbage free Sri Lanka by 2012.

The Nature Forum of the Rajarata University and undergraduates also contributed to collection of plastic and polythene in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.