Weekly Air Quality Update for Sri Lanka
17 March – 23 March 2025
Summary
Sri Lanka experienced moderate air quality throughout the week. Pelawatte had the highest air pollution, with a weekly average air quality index (AQI) of 94. Nuwara Eliya recorded the least pollution last week, with a weekly average AQI of 48.
From 17 to 22 March, the wind from the East carried clean air into the country. On the 23rd, the wind carried polluted air from Southern China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, causing the most polluted day of the week.
Summaries for the stations from 17th – 23rd March 2025
Air Quality was,
Moderate (AQI 50-100): Akurana, Digana, Kurunegala, Colombo, Battaramulla (Pelawatte), Battaramulla (CEA), Gampaha, Negombo, Ambalantota, Puttalam Trincomalee, Jaffna, and Dambulla.
Good (AQI 0-50): Nuwara Eliya.
Weekly Average AQI for selected cities
Battaramulla (Pelawatte) recorded the highest weekly average AQI of 94. Nuwara Eliya recorded the lowest weekly AQI of 48.
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.