Sri Lanka increasingly facing air pollution issues: Hong Kong-based scientist

• The challenge of maintaining air quality standards amid rapid economic growth was highlighted
• The experts focused on air quality monitoring, pollution levels, and policy strategies to mitigate air pollution
• A group of professors from the US shared their expertise on  modelling and measuring air pollution

Director of Environment Protection of Hong Kong Dr. Samuel  CHUI highlighted that Sri Lanka, as a developing country, is facing  increasingly serious air pollution issues.  

“China and other nations have prioritised air quality  during industrial development. However, Sri Lanka is now seeking  expertise from experts in countries like China, Australia, and Canada to  address this pressing concern, he said.  

He added as the economy continues to grow rapidly, the  challenge of maintaining air quality standards is of paramount  importance.  

He was speaking at the conference on improving air quality  in lower Middle-income countries monitoring, modelling and pollution  Control held at the China Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration  Center for Water Technology (JRDC) on July 04.  

Director of JRDC Dr. S. K. Weragoda, highlighted that the  conference provided a platform for experts from various countries to  exchange their knowledge on addressing environmental impacts and  improving air quality.   

The experts focused on air quality monitoring, pollution levels, and policy strategies to mitigate air pollution.  
Representatives from China, Hong Kong, the United States,  Canada, and the Maldives, as well as local experts from the University of  Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Peradeniya, Central Environmental  Authority, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and the Water  Supply Ministry shared their experiences, he said.  
Dr. Weragoda emphasised that this conference allowed Sri  Lanka to gain insights into the latest technologies used in other  countries to combat air pollution.  

He mentioned the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding  between the CEA and JRDC, underscores the latter’s role as a regulatory  body capable of supporting environmental monitoring and sustainable  development in alignment with the President’s policy.  

Director General of the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental  Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. ZHU Yongguan emphasised  that air pollution is a global challenge that should be addressed  unitedly.  
He expressed gratitude to the JRDC, a joint Research and  Demonstration Centre between China and Sri Lanka, for organising such  conferences to bring together experts in the field on a common platform.  
He expressed hope that in the future, Sri Lanka will host  similar activities to promote collaboration and training for young  scientists.  

“The young scientists should work together with their international peers to tackle global issues of importance”, he said.  

He also highlighted that Sri Lanka is uniquely positioned with its diverse ecosystems.  

Prof. James Schauer of the University of Wisconsin in  Madison, United States, stated that experts from various countries  convened at the conference to deliberate on the development of  strategies for addressing air quality and capacity building to control  air pollution in Sri Lanka and other countries in the region.  

He emphasised the importance of creating a roadmap for this  purpose, drawing from the experiences of countries such as China, the  United States, and Hong Kong, among others. Additionally, he mentioned  that a group of professors from the US shared their expertise on  modelling and measuring air pollution, providing valuable insights into  its sources and impacts on human health.  

Dr. Gayan Bowatte, from the Faculty of Allied Health  Sciences at the University of Peradeniya, emphasised the importance of  the conference organised by the JRDC, which is affiliated with the  university. The conference aims to address the issue of air pollution in  Sri Lanka and gather insights from local and foreign experts on how to  mitigate its effects.  

Dr. Bowatte highlighted the neglected nature of air  pollution in the country, despite its significant impact on public  health. He stressed the need for greater attention to this issue,  considering the adverse health effects and fatalities associated with  air pollution.