The ban has been imposed in consideration of the death of a majority of labourers who had worked at asbestos mines in the early 1900s.

Medical experts say the asbestos dust that gets deposited in lungs could cause cancer.

Sri Lanka previously decided to ban the asbestos use, but withdrew the decision following Russia’s ban on Sri Lanka tea imports.

Sri Lanka buys 25 per cent of its asbestos requirements from Russia, which accounts for half of the world asbestos production.