Sri Lanka chokes as transboundary pollution drives air quality down

 Situation expected to persist until March next year, posing ongoing health risks 

By Sheain Fernandopulle 

Air quality in several parts of Sri Lanka has plunged to unhealthy levels, driven by a mix of local pollution and smoke drifting from neighbouring nations, including northern India, experts warn. 

According to real-time data from the Air Quality Index (AQI), the affected areas include Kaduruwela, Chilaw, Akaragama, Wanduragala, Digana, Madampagama, Hungama, Akkaraipattu, Kalawana, Mulliyawalai, Pannankandy, Adampan, Uppuveli, and several parts of Jaffna and Colombo. 

A senior official at the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) told Daily Mirror that the drop in air quality is due to a combination of local pollution and transboundary pollution, pollutants transported across borders from neighbouring countries, particularly India. The situation is expected to persist until March next year, posing ongoing health risks. 

“The condition is expected to persist until March 2026, posing serious health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues,” the official said. 

“The current levels of pollution are dangerous, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or heart conditions,” he added. 

As such, citizens are advised to reduce outdoor exercise, keep windows closed, and wear protective masks when venturing outside. 

The worsening situation in Sri Lanka mirrors a severe air pollution crisis in India, where New Delhi has been blanketed by a thick layer of smog since the weekend. On Monday morning, the city’s AQI reached 344, classified as “severe” and hazardous according to World Health Organisation guidelines. 

The deteriorating air in India has sparked public protests, with hundreds of residents, including parents and environmental activists, gathering at India Gate on Sunday to demand urgent government action. Many protesters wore masks and carried placards reading “I miss breathing.”