Dark Sky Research
Understanding light pollution, sky quality, and the importance of preserving nocturnal environments in Sri Lanka.
The Threat of Light Pollution
Light pollution—the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light—is growing at an unprecedented rate globally. In Sri Lanka, rapid urbanization is slowly eroding the visibility of the Milky Way, even in traditionally rural areas. Our research maps these changes and identifies highly vulnerable dark-sky sanctuaries.
Ecological Impact
Artificial light at night disrupts global ecosystems. In Sri Lanka, species such as sea turtles, nocturnal amphibians, and migratory birds are particularly sensitive to artificial lighting along the coast and inside national parks.
Read related ecological studiesMeasuring Sky Quality (Bortle Scale)
We use Sky Quality Meters (SQM) and the Bortle Scale to quantify the darkness of destinations. A Bortle class 1 site is perfectly dark, while class 9 is an inner-city sky. Many of Sri Lanka's prime destinations fall between Class 2 and Class 4, making them excellent for observation—if protected.
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