Our Work
Projects | Research | Publications
We have installed about 15 pm2.5 stations in the past through related funding from the US National Academy of Sciences and USAID through the PEER program. However, the number of stations that are functioning is down to five at present. This work led to
DATA AND DISSEMINATION
- Collection of pm2.5 data for the Western, Central and North-Western Sri Lanka for 7 years but with big drops.
IQAir Instrument
PurpleAir Instrument
- Provision of information via www.cleanair.lk and social media handles @fectlk and @cleanairlk, including weekly Air Quality reports and YouTube videos. Links are available at www.cleanair.lk and www.fect.lk
Stay updated with the latest air quality insights and reports.
INTERPRETIVE STUDIES
Interpretive Studies reported at AGU Fall Meetings include the following:
- AGU Fall Meeting 2018 – PM2.5 Sensors Used to Detect Transport of Particulates from Sri Lanka’s Coal Power Plant to its Central Highlands https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018AGUFMGC11D0965Z/abstract
- AGU Fall Meeting 2022 – The Impact of COVID-19 Shutdowns and Fuel Shortages on Air Quality Variability in Colombo, Sri Lanka (T. Ekanayake, N. Alahakoon, U. Adithya, L. Zubair) https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022AGUFM.A42B..02E/abstract
- AGU Fall Meeting 2022 – Was the Spike in Air Pollution in Sri Lanka (3–5 Nov 2019) due to Transboundary Transport or Inland Sources? (P. Ellegala, L. Zubair) https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022AGUFMGC33A..02E/abstract
- AGU Fall Meeting 2020 – Attributing improvement of Air Quality in Colombo to COVID-19 curfews distracts focus from major pollution sources in Sri Lanka https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020AGUFMGH002..10Z/abstract
Studies on the Norochcholai Power Plant:
- The impact of emissions from the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant on Air Quality locally and on the Western Hills and its Slopes (2020)
- The Impacts of Norochcholai Coal Power Plant on the Air Quality of Puttalam and Beyond (2021)
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Examples of Public Outreach through Feature Articles by team members in the past.
- https://www.sundaytimes.lk/190310/sunday-times-2/norochcholai-ash-contaminates-lankas-western-atmosphere-339797.html
- https://news.mongabay.com/2020/06/crediting-the-lockdown-for-sri-lankas-cleaner-air-masks-the-real-problem-commentary/
- Medarata Soba Article: Clean the Air: A Look on Central Province’s Air Quality
Communication on AQ through support for Journalists – Samples
- https://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/Transboundary-air-pollution-%3A
- For-how-long-should-Sri-Lankans-suffer-due-to-poor-air-quality-levels-/131-299837 https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/as-sri-lankans-choke-on-bad-air-authorities-cite-transboundary-pollution/