Army Agricultural Research Proves Boiled Banana Leaves as Alternative to Polythene Lunch Sheets

‘Sri Lanka Next’, a significant exhibition, staged during 16-17 October by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment under the aegis of HE the President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH, meant to take Sri Lanka towards the environmentally-friendly ‘Blue Green’ era, attracted the public attention on a project, presented by the Army on use of banana leaves, instead of polythene.

Army personnel in the Directorate of Agriculture, commanded by Brigadier Buwaneka Gunaratne during the exhibition displayed how the bio product, the banana leaf in lunch packets, could be repeatedly used and preserved for more than three months unaffected when it is dipped in hot water and boiled for some time.

To begin with, Army personnel would begin the expanded cultivation of banana trees inside all barren Army lands across the country with the blessings of the Commander of the Army within a few days. Similarly, the same Directorate expects to launch a programme at different locations to give away those boiled banana leaves for use to the public, instead of polythene lunch sheets.

HE the President taking a close look at the project during his visit to the exhibition commended the Army for its initiative with banana leaves and bought an Army-produced handy ornamental box, made of rattan from the stall for HE the President’s personal use.

The simple technique of using these hydro-treated banana leaves as alternatives to the lunch box polythene sheets drew the attention of many visitors who called at the Army stall.