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Public advised to wear masks as air pollution and fog persist

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In light of the foggy conditions prevailing in many parts of the country, Consultant Respiratory Physician Dr. Neranjan Dissanayake urged the public not to panic, noting that such weather is not abnormal.

However, he recommends that individuals with respiratory issues wear masks during this period. “For others, wearing a mask is also beneficial,” he adds.

Speaking to Daily Mirror, Dr. Dissanayake cautions that standard surgical masks may not offer maximum protection against the tiny particles present in the fog.

He emphasized that the impact on individuals without respiratory problems depends on the specific substances in the air. “Nevertheless, sensitive individuals should remain vigilant, he added.

Recent data indicates a rise in air pollution levels across various parts of Sri Lanka.

According to the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), areas including Colombo, Kandy, Puttalam, Vavuniya, and Jaffna have experienced increased particulate matter in the atmosphere.

The NBRO reports that the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has more than doubled in recent days, reaching values between 100 and 150 on the U.S. Air Quality Index, a range that can significantly affect sensitive groups.

The poor air quality is caused by polluted air originating from India as well as locally generated pollutants, according to NBRO.

As of January 29, 2025, the real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) in Sri Lanka stands at 132, categorized as ‘Poor.’ This level is particularly unhealthy for sensitive individuals, who are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

As such, Dr. Dissanayake advises the public to stay informed about air quality levels and to take appropriate precautions, especially those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

(dailymirror.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Several showers expected today

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Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (July 03), the Department of Meteorology said.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Meanwhile, fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Kahawatte OIC transferred

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The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Kahawatte Police has been transferred to the Jaffna Police Division to facilitate the investigation into the youth who was shot dead on June 30 in Kahawatte, Police said.

A 22-year-old youth died while another was critically injured in a shooting incident in the Yainna area of Kahawatte.

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List of families eligible for ‘Aswesuma’ Phase 2, released

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The list of eligible families selected for the second phase of the ‘Aswesuma’ welfare benefit allowance has been officially released.

The list has been displayed on the notice boards of all Divisional Secretariat offices and Grama Niladhari officers as well as in the offices of the relevant field officers in charge of the subject. It has also been published on the official website of the Welfare Benefits Board, (www.wbb.gov.lk).

Furthermore, applicants who believe there is an error or any changes in the information provided during the second stage of data collection, and whose names are not included in the list of eligible candidates, have the opportunity to submit an appeal.

Additionally, individuals who submitted initial applications for ‘Aswesuma’ Phase 2 but were not visited by a government field officer for housing data collection are also eligible to appeal.

Before filing an appeal, all applicants are advised to review the information recorded about their households in the IWMS database during the housing data collection process.

Appeals and objections can be submitted through the official website by accessing the Appeals and Objections section. For further assistance, applicants are also advised to visit their nearest ‘Vidatha’ Resource Centre when submitting appeals and objections online.

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