| BOD | Biological Oxygen Demand |
| BOI | Board Of Investments |
| CBO | Community Based Organisation |
| CEA | Central Environmental Authority |
| CEC | Cation Exchange Capacity |
| DHF | Dengue Haemorragic Fever |
| DS | Divisional Secretary |
| EDA | Environmental Development Assistant |
| EIA | Environmental Impact Assessment |
| GA | Government Agent |
| GCEC | Greater Colombo Economic Commission |
| GN | Grama Seva Nildari (see § 1.5) |
| HDPE | High Density Polyethylene (see § 1.7) |
| IEE | Initial Environmental Examination |
| IRMP | Integrated Resources Management Programme in Wetlands |
| LDPE | Low Density Polyethylene (see § 1.7) |
| MC | Municipal Council |
| MFE | Ministry of Forestry and Environment |
| NERD | National Engineering and Research Department |
| NGO | Non-Governmental Organisation |
| NSSWM | National Strategy for Solid Waste Management |
| PAH | Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbon |
| PE | Polyethylene (see § 1.7) |
| PET | Polyethylene terephthalate (see § 1.7) |
| PHI | Public Health Inspector |
| PP | Polypropylene (see § 1.7) |
| PS | Pradeshiya Sabha (see § 1.5) |
| PVC | Polyvinyl chloride |
| RDA | Road Development Authority |
| Rs | Sri Lankan Rupees |
| UC | Urban Council |
| UDA | Urban Development Authority |
| WCP | Wetland Conservation Project |