The Kegalle district program of the series of awareness and training of trainers programs conducted by the Ministry of Environment at the district level with the aim of informing various sectors and the public regarding the Indoor Air Quality Guidelines was held today (31) under the chairmanship of Kegalle Additional District Secretary (Lands) Mr. Dilip Nishantha.

Air quality is extremely important for human health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization, around seven deaths per year are reported worldwide due to the effects of air pollution. According to the United Nations Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be 2.5 times more polluted than outdoor air, and in some cases it can be up to 100 times more polluted.

As studies have shown that humans spend 90% of their time indoors, it is very important to maintain indoor air quality at an optimal level. Taking this into account, the Ministry of Environment's Air Resource Management and National Environment Unit released a set of guidelines for indoor air quality management in homes and public places.

Mrs. Thisari Inoka, Assistant Director of Air Resource Management and National Ozone Unit, explained how the Ministry of Environment intervenes in air pollution and air quality management.

A briefing on the indoor air quality management guidelines for this workshop was given by R.N.R.Jayaratne, Senior Research Assistant, Institute of Industrial Technology and Mrs. Inoka Suraweera, an expert from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health of the Ministry of Health on the health effects of air pollution.

For this occasion, Ms. Anusha Rukshani, Director of Air Resources Management and National Ozone Unit of the Ministry of Environment, Assistant Commissioner of Local Government, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Director of Central Environment Authority, Deputy Director of Urban Development Authority, officers attached under Central Environment Authority, Public Health Inspectors, District Secretariat officials were joined.