The incidence of asthma and kidney disease in the North-Central province are reported to have increased and medical experts are of the view that vehicular emissions, including gaseous substances and particulate matters such as cadmium, ferrous, copper vanadium and led accumulated in the atmosphere are to blame. These substances are airborne and come down with rains affecting surface and ground water resources, the Atomic Energy Authority said at an International Meeting held to discuss the issue of air pollution in Colombo recently. AEA Chairman Dr. W. Abyewickrema said that like other countries, Sri Lanka was faced with the effects of global warming. Extreme weather conditions experienced by all countries in the region were due to the green house effect. Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana said that changing environmental patterns and constant air pollution had created several obstacles to the economic development of the country. He said that the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) would take policy decisions in the creation of a pollution-free environment in which a sustainable economic development could be achieved in the near future. The promotion of renewable and environmental-friendly energy sources was of vital importance to economic development in Sri Lanka. He stressed that the AEA had developed its nuclear analytical capabilities with the objective of providing valuable data for environmental management.