Sri Lanka closes schools as extreme weather brings pollution

Schools across Sri Lanka have been closed, in part due to extreme weather conditions, as health and environmental officials warned of unhealthy air quality across much of the island nation.

Authorities say polluted air from neighboring India has exacerbated the problem, as a storm in the Bay of Bengal has unleashed heavy rain and high winds across Sri Lanka in recent days.

A haze hangs over the capital Colombo and other parts of the country, with levels of fine particulate matter in the air reaching unhealthy levels.

“The current pollution is due to a combination of local air pollutants and transboundary air pollution,” said the National Building Research Organization, a state agency involved in environmental monitoring and risk management.

“The condition is seen in all parts of Sri Lanka and has a tendency to cause health problems,” it added.

Health Services Director-General Asela Gunawardena said the situation would continue for the next fortnight, advising people to limit the time they spend outdoors and wear face masks outside to minimize health risks.

In the past two days, many places in Sri Lanka have been hit by heavy rain and strong winds, killing at least two people and injuring two others. Fallen trees damaged dozens of homes and several roads were blocked.

A severe cyclone is in the Bay of Bengal about 143 miles northeast of Sri Lanka and is likely to move toward India, the weather service said.