Haze alert: Sri Lanka grapples with air pollution from India

Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology reported that polluted air, transported from India by prevailing wind patterns, has led to hazy conditions in specific areas of Sri Lanka, with Bandarawella and Badulla among the worst affected areas by transboundary air pollution.

According to a duty forecaster from the Department, “The wind flow originating from New Delhi follows a circular trajectory, moving from Delhi towards the Bay of Bengal. As this wind flow curves from the Bay of Bengal, it enters Sri Lanka from the East, impacting areas such as Bandarawella and Badulla.”

However, the Met Department noted a positive development, stating, “We anticipate a certain level of moisture in the air over the next few days, along with windy conditions, leading to some rainfall. This is expected to alleviate the haze. But there is a likelihood of more polluted airflow from India towards the end of this mont,” the duty forecaster said.

The Department assured the public that Sri Lanka is not significantly affected at the moment. 

Moreover, the forecaster addressed temperature concerns in Nuwara Eliya, stating that a temperature drop, witnessed in the Central Province district with temperatures as low as 6 degrees Celsius last evening, is expected to normalize in the coming days.