The Court of Appeal yesterday directed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to assess air quality in the Jaffna area and submit its findings to the Court.
The two-judge bench, comprising Justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne (President) and Shashi Mahendran, instructed authorities to explore the feasibility of establishing a public information programme regarding adverse air quality conditions in the region, based on the results of the investigation.
This directive followed a petition filed by Jaffna resident Umasugi Nadarajah. Senior Counsel Ravindranath Dabare, representing the petitioner, argued that no formal investigation into air quality in the Jaffna peninsula had been conducted by government agencies.
The petitioner cited an NBRO report dated June 19, 2023, titled “Monitoring of Ambient Air Quality Levels at Nallur Area, Jaffna.” The report indicated that air quality in the area significantly exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines due to heightened domestic and vehicular activity during peak hours (6 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 6 pm).
The Court’s order underscores the urgent need for environmental monitoring and public awareness initiatives to address air pollution in Jaffna.
