Weekly Air Quality Update for Sri Lanka
03 March – 09 March 2025
Summary
Air Quality this week declined compared to last week. None of the stations recorded Good (AQI 0- 50) weekly average AQI. Unhealthy (AQI 150 – 200) AQI was recorded in Akurana, Digana, Battaramulla (Pelawatte), Battaramulla (CEA), and Dambulla at the end of the week.
This decline was due to wind transport from the Arabian Sea carrying somewhat polluted air from the west coast of India toward Sri Lanka at the beginning of the week. Thereafter, wind across the Bay of Bengal transported more polluted air from the northeast Bay of Bengal by later in the week.
Summaries for the stations from 03rd – 09th March 2025
Air Quality was,
Moderate (AQI 50-100): Nuwara Eliya, Negombo, Ambalantota Puttalam, Trincomalee, and Jaffna.
Unhealthy for sensitive groups (AQI 100-150): Akurana, Digana, Kurunegala, Colombo, Battaramulla, Gampaha, and Dambulla.
Weekly Average AQI for selected cities
Battaramulla (Pelawatte) recorded the highest weekly average AQI of 133. Nuwara Eliya recorded the lowest weekly AQI of 56.
Read more about AQ color scale and real-time air quality stations operated by FECT https://fect.lk/air-quality/
Observed fine particulate measurements by the minute for last days
Air Quality impact on human health
Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) are generally 2.5 microns and smaller in size. Such particles are inhalable and easily lodges inside the lungs reducing capacity. PM2.5 is a concern for people’s health when levels in the air are high. The levels of risk are shown in the dial shown against the US EPA air quality standards. AQ has a scale that run from 0-500, that tells you how clean or polluted your air is. Each level on the scale corresponds to a different level of health concern.