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Air pollution in Kandy & Colombo on the rise
Air pollution in Kandy and Colombo has exceeded the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera said.
However, he said all other parts of the country had minimal levels of air pollution.
He said this during a media briefing organized by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMA) held in Colombo this morning (23).
The Minister said that the WHO has recommended that the level of Particulate Matter (PM value) in the atmosphere should be less than 50 micrograms per square meter.
“However, the the level has increased to 150-165 in the Colombo and Kandy town areas in some occasions. Especially, since Kandy is a city in the middle of a mountain, there is no evacuation of the micro-elements in its atmosphere,” he underlined.
“The micro-particles are not dependent on the atmosphere due to the winds due to the proximity of the ocean to the city of Colombo. Smoke emitted by vehicles is also responsible for 65 percent of air pollution,” the Minister said.
“This situation is gradually deteriorating in the Colombo and Kandy districts, as well as within the city of Kurunegala and Galle too. Therefore, even though COVID 19 is over, there is a situation in Kandy where children and adults have to wear masks,” the Minister stressed.
He also said the Government would take steps to give priority to the importation of electric and solar powered vehicles and increase the number of such locations to 10 as there are currently only two locations for measuring air quality. (Sheain Fernandopulle)
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