Sri Lanka best in air quality management in South Asia

November 23, 2024

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Development - Provincial

Sri Lanka best in air quality management in South Asia

July 18, 2014

According to the Environment Performance Index (EPI) Yale University, Sri Lanka ranked as 69th place in EPI which is a Global Environmental Assessment Index in terms of air quality management in the country. In South Asia, Sri Lanka is the best in air quality management according to the above assessment. Properly operating vehicle emission testing program and industrial emission control system are the key air quality management tools utilized for successes.

In addition to above, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) is thinking about promotion of low emission hybrid vehicles to the Sri Lankan vehicle fleet and thereby to further reduce the emissions from transport sector of the country and expect further improvement in air quality status in Sri Lanka.

In this regard, a discussion was held at CEA with the participation of D.W Prathapasinghe Chairman of CEA, Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, Director Geneeral of CEA, Dr. Thusithe Sugathapala, Director General of the Sustainable Energy Authority, M.M.R. Pathmasiri Deputy Director (optional) of Sustainable Energy Authority, Indika Sampath Merenchige President of vehicles Importers Association of Lanka, Keerthi Gunawadhana Secretary of vehicles Importers Association of Lanka & senior officers of CEA to study the possibility of recommending Tax concessions for importation of hybrid vehicles and thereby increase the percentage of hybrid vehicles in Sri Lanka vehicle fleet by 20% in 2020. They have further discussed to develop fuel economy standards for Sri Lanka to further reduce the per-capita emission in future. (SI/KH)