The construction of the facility for South Asia will start on September 16 in collaboration with the department of meteorology.

Director of the national ozone unit Janaka Gunawardena said the centre would help Sri Lanka by way of allowing research opportunities on damage to the ozone layer.

Sri Lanka has done away with 55 of the 96 gases that harm the ozone layer, and the use of 40 others will be terminated by 2030, he said.