Weekly Air Quality Update for Sri Lanka
24 March – 30 March 2025
Summary
This week, air pollution in Sri Lanka worsened, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging from 48 to 94, compared to last week’s range of 58 to 139. None of the stations recorded a good AQI. Akurana and Digana had high air pollution from 28 – 30 March. Last week, Akurana recorded the highest pollution level, with a weekly average AQI of 139, while Puttalam had the least pollution, with a weekly average AQI of 58.
At the beginning of the week, polluted air was coming from areas north of the Bay of Bengal. The wind shifted by the end of the week, bringing polluted air from land to the northeast of the Bay of Bengal.
Summaries for the stations from 24 – 30 March 2025
Air Quality was:
Unhealthy for sensitive groups (AQI 100 – 150): Akurana, Digana, Battaramulla, Trincomalee, Jaffna, and Dambulla.
Moderate (AQI 50-100): Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, Colombo, Gampaha, Negombo, Ambalantota, and Puttalam.
Weekly Average AQI for selected cities
Akurana recorded the highest weekly average AQI of 139. Puttalam recorded the lowest weekly AQI of 58.
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.