Six doctors for 'red rain' areas

In depth study to be conducted:

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Health Ministry Secretary will send six doctors to areas which experienced red rain last week, to conduct an in depth study.

The main objective of the visit is to prevent any future bio-scientific problems, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said the doctors will examine water resources in affected areas to ensure bio-scientific problems will not occur in the future due to red rain.

The Medical Research Institute (MRI) earlier said the algae in the rain water was harmless.

Several areas experienced red rain last week. Red rain in Sewanagala and Manampitiya left red frost on the ground. Monaragala and Polonnaruwa also experienced red rain.

This is the first time red rain was witnessed in Sri Lanka.

Further studies by the Industrial Technology Institute and Nano Technology Institute also found the algae was harmless and had no impact on human health, the spokesman said.