LAUGFS Eco Sri Celebrates International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2022

Air is a basic necessity for all living beings and an essential element in human survival. The air we breathe is the fuel that energizes us all. Air in its purest state is best suited for the essential task of sustaining life. Celebrating the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, LAUGFS Eco Sri Limited, a pioneer in air quality management in Sri Lanka, illustrated the importance of pragmatic, wide spread solutions to minimize air pollution in the country. This year’s theme for International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies – The Air We Share, emphasizes the message that the world needs to take decisive, urgent action to mitigate air pollution regardless of geography or socioeconomic status. Emission Testing (VET) program contributes in minimizing vehicle exhaust emissions through ensuring that the emissions remain within acceptable standards. Air pollution is the largest contributor to the burden of disease from the environment, and is one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally. Over 7 million people die each year due to air pollution, with 90% of them in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, Lancet Planetary Health). Children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution, with sometimes lifelong consequences. According to WHO, approximately 93% of the world’s children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children), daily breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. Tragically, many of them die. WHO estimates that in 2016, 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air. Transportation, more specifically vehicle exhaust emissions, play a major role in air pollution especially in developing regions such as South Asia. Therefore, minimizing vehicle emission is an integral part of the battle against air pollution. At LAUGFS ECO SRI, the Emission Testing centers are equipped with advanced technology and qualified trained personnel to examine and certify all vehicles undergoing emission tests comply with set norms and environmental regulations. This in turn ensures that harmful emissions which are released to the environment by vehicles is controlled and that they remain within applicable benchmarked levels. As a pioneering vehicle emission testing entity in Sri Lanka, LAUGFS Eco Sri has played a vital role in improving air quality in the country since 2008. The Company’s ongoing Vehicle Commenced in 2008 with just 19 testing centers within Western province, The Company now cover the entire country with over 238 customer touch-points, providing easy access to motorists. LAUGFS Eco Sri constantly ensures accuracy, reliability and efficiency in vehicle emissions testing process with the use of state-of-the-art equipment imported from Italy. The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is an opportune moment to discuss the complexities of the air pollution challenge, and lay the foundation for a greener, more inclusive and sustainable way of life. With the present economic challenges at hand, current strategies need to be revisited to consider implementation of inventive ways in which to aspire for cleaner air. As a Sri Lankan Company with its eyes set on contributing to reducing air pollution, LAUGFS Eco Sri is committed in expanding its scope and nurturing stronger ties with customers in order to become a key stakeholder in the battle against air pollution. In addition, to its core operations, LAUGFS Eco Sri engages in numerous green initiatives across the nation to contribute to not only minimizing air pollution, but also to become an integral part of the broader approach to sustainable living and environmental conservation. LET’S ACT TOGETHER FOR THE AIR WE SHARE! LAUGFS Eco Sri is an ISO 9001 certified company that offers vehicle emission testing services backed by state-of-the-art technology. With stringent quality standards, the company facilitates the government-approved Vehicle Emission Testing program through a network of over 238 customer touch-points island-wide. LAUGFS Group is one of the largest diversified business conglomerates and a trusted and well-loved home-grown business in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1995, LAUGFS today has expanded across 20 industries in Sri Lanka and overseas, establishing a strong presence as a leader and pioneer in the power and energy, retail, industrial, services, leisure and logistics sectors. With over 3,500 employees and an annual turnover exceeding LKR 60 billion, LAUGFS continues to expand and empower millions as a trusted Sri Lankan brand. Significance of laws and regulations for Air Quality Management Continued from page 4 Regulations and Orders for

management air quality and control of air pollution Early 1990s, Sri Lanka wisely understood air quality and its management was most important for health and environmental sustainability of the country. This understanding lead to develop air quality management policy and followed regulations in which necessary for management and maintain of the air quality of the country, and mitigate and control air pollution caused by various development projects, transportation, industries, etc. One important establishment for combatting with envisaged air quality and managing it scientific manner was Clean Air 2000 Action Plan. The action plan played major role making air better achieving important goals and it cleared the pathway for deriving regulations, air quality monitoring, capacity building, etc. nThe first ever regulation enacted for management and maintain air quality of the country under the NEA was the National Environmental (Ambient Air Quality) Regulations No 01 of 1994 that published in the gazette extraordinary No 850/4 dated 20.12.1994. It regulated PM10: particulate known as aerodynamic diameter less than 10µm; Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and ground level Ozone (O3). In evaluating the economic condition of the country, and technical knowhow gained the regulations were upgraded including PM2.5 and introducing stringent limits for other parameter. The amended regulations published in the gazette extraordinary No 1562/22 of 15.08.2008 nEnd of the 20th century it was determined that vehicle emissions contributed almost 60% of ambient air pollution and therefore it was decided to set out standard for managing air quality and limiting pollution loads into the air. In order to meet the said task, the National Environmental (Air emission, Fuel, Vehicle Importation Standards) Regulations No 01 of 2003 was come to operate through the gazette extraordinary No1245/11, dated 30.06.2003 and it was shaped up in 2008 by the gazette No 1557/14, dated 09.07.2008 recognizing the country’s requirements. Respecting the vehicle fleet of the country and gradual increasing rate the vehicle fleet, vehicular emission limit set out in 2003 were stringent by publishing the gazette extraordinary No 1887/20 of 05.11.2014. nIn order to match with exhaust emission load and best affordable technology for controlling vehicular emissions, the government decided to upgrade introducing EURO IV compatible emission standards to combat with vehicular emissions while banning importation of vehicles in which built up with outdated technologies. Therefore emission standards compatible with Euro IV, Parallel Japanese standards and Bharat IV (Indian standards) were developed and published in the gazette extraordinary No 2079/42 dated 12.07.2018, and No 2083/03 dated 06.08.2018. n Industry consists of various equipment that generate stack emissions and fugitive emissions affecting the quality of environment and human health. In order to address such issues National Environmental (Stationary Source Emission Control) Regulations No 01 of 2019, and regulations published in the gazette extraordinary No 2126/36 of 05.06.2019. it regulates instruments such as thermal power plants, boilers, incinerators, furnaces, heaters, cement plants and stand by generators where having 0.62MW or higher gross heat input level. Apart of that the regulations address fugitive emissions like suspended particles, Ammonia, acid mists, asbestos fiber and volatile organic compound escaped into air by industrial processes. n Ozone layer is one of most important natural phenomena that protect the earth and its whole environment for harmful rays released by the sun. recognizing the important of protection of ozone layer and prevention of depletion of ozone the prohibition order of ozone depleting substances was published by the gazette No 1309/20, and dated10.10.2003 Indoor Air Pollution and Health Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures; so called confined build environment. Especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. Understanding, due attention and controlling common indoor pollutants can help reduce ones health risk in indoor environments. Some health effects may show up shortly after a single exposure or repeated exposures to a pollutant. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, which are usually short-term and treatable. Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how

hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted. Fuel-burning combustion appliances; stove or fire places without chimney or proper ventilation, tobacco products; cigarettes, building materials and furnishings (eg. deteriorated asbestos containing insulation, newly installed flooring, furniture made of pressed wood products etc.), products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices, excess moisture are some examples for indoor air pollution sources. Blue Sky refers a healthy nation that essentially required for the sustainability of the country in every aspects and therefore this important day all Sri Lankan are cordially invite to contribute for maintaining the blue sky forever and, join with actions of the Ministry of Environment and the Central Environment Authority to keep the sky in blue for better future of you, your family and future generations. The protection of environment is not only mandatory duty for the government, it’s a duty of all citizens according to the article 28 (f) of the Sri Lanka constitution.