After months of deteriorating air quality and media reports highlighting the issue, Sri Lanka has improved its standing and is no longer among the world’s top 50 most polluted cities.
According to Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, the country now ranks 51st in 2024.
However, despite this progress, Sri Lanka still falls short of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) air quality standards, which only seven countries have met. WHO guidelines recommend PM2.5 levels not exceeding 5 µg/m³ annually, with short-term exposure limits of 15 µg/m³ for no more than 3–4 days per year. These fine airborne particles pose serious health risks when inhaled, potentially penetrating deep into the lungs.
While recent reports from the Daily Mirror indicated unhealthy air quality levels in Jaffna and Monaragala, the rest of the country has maintained relatively good air conditions.
The world’s most polluted cities continue to be dominated by countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, alongside several African nations. Sri Lanka’s severe air pollution episodes from December to January were partly attributed to polluted air drifting south from neighboring regions.
