A cabinet paper to control the use and import of asbestos from 2018 by adopting more beneficial substitutes and to prepare an operational program to prohibit asbestos related production from 2024 to improve the health of the public was presented by President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment and approved by the Cabinet.

Asbestos is used for many products including roofing sheets, floor tiles, cement pipes, brake pads of vehicles, papers, and ropes.

From 1987 importation of blue Asbestos (Crocidolite) was prohibited as it was identified as a carcinogen by the WHO and at present all kinds of asbestos including white asbestos (Chrysotile) have been identified as carcinogens. About 80 percent of asbestos imported to Sri Lanka are used for roofing sheet production.