Sri Lanka, Jan. 26 -- With the air quality in several Sri Lankan cities recently reaching unhealthy levels and pollution intensifying across South Asia, the Government has taken steps to revive and strengthen regional cooperation under the long-dormant Male Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said.

The move comes amid growing public concern over the deteriorating air quality in Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Gampaha, where pollution levels, have at times, reached levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to monitoring data.

Minister Patabendi said the Government will use its recently established headquarters of the South Asian Co-operative Enviro...