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Importance of giving ear to nature’s symphony as Sri Lanka’s harmful noise levels rise
View(s):- International Noise Awareness Day fell on April 29 while International Dawn Chorus Day falls today
By Malaka Rodrigo
This week, brings together two international observance days linked to sound, yet standing at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is International Noise Awareness Day, on April 29 that draws attention to the harmful effects of excessive noise on human health, hearing, and overall quality. The other International Dawn Chorus Day, celebrated on the first Sunday of May – this year falling today (May 3) – inviting people around the world to wake up before sunrise and listen to one of nature’s oldest and most beautiful symphonies: the morning songs of birds.
The contrast is striking. One warns humanity about the growing burden of noise pollution, while the other encourages people to rediscover the healing and the wonder of natural soundscapes.
The Asian Koel (koha) is also famous for its melodious song to attract a mate usually during the Avurudu Season. Pic by Uddika Amarasinghe
Noise pollution is one of the less discussed environmental issues in Sri Lanka. From the blaring horns from city traffic to loudspeakers used during social, political, and religious events, excessive sound has increasingly become part of everyday life. Urban centres rarely experience true silence anymore. Construction activities, modified vehicle exhausts, roadside music systems, and constant traffic contribute to a sound environment that many people have simply learned to tolerate.
Yet scientists have repeatedly shown that chronic exposure to high noise levels can affect both physical and mental wellbeing. Sleep disturbance, stress, reduced concentration, elevated blood pressure and hearing impairment are among the known impacts. Noise also affects wildlife. Birds and other animals that rely on sound for communication often struggle in urban environments where human-generated noise drown natural calls.
Sri Lanka regulates noise pollution through the National Environmental Act and the National Environmental (Noise Control) Regulations enforced by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). Under these regulations, maximum permissible daytime noise levels are generally set at around 55–63 decibels in residential areas and up to 70 decibels in commercial zones, with stricter limits applied at night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Construction activities, industries, loudspeakers, and vehicle noise are all supposed to be subject to control, and violations can result in fines or legal action.
However, the situation has become more complex as noise pollution now extends beyond traditional sources such as industry, traffic, and public address systems. Increasingly, everyday behaviour in shared spaces contributes to the problem. “As a nature lover, I have visited riversides seeking peace, only to find groups arriving with loudspeakers and mobile sound systems that completely destroy the calm atmosphere,” says Thisaru Gamage. “Even in public transport, some passengers play videos aloud without earphones, becoming a nuisance for others,” he adds.
“CEA is planning to introduce community-level noise restriction guidelines to further strengthen regulations against noise pollution,” says Kapila Mahesh Rajapaksha, Director General of the CEA. With the increasing affordability of portable speakers, their use at private gatherings has also become widespread, often leading to complaints from surrounding communities. “We are also planning to raise awareness among the public on how to use sound responsibly without disturbing others,” he says.
The growing use of mobile phones to play videos or music aloud on public transport is another emerging source of disturbance. While the CEA primarily regulates larger-scale noise sources such as industries, construction, and loudspeakers, this reflects a broader urban noise pollution challenge. Addressing it effectively would require coordination between transport authorities, law enforcement, and public awareness initiatives rather than regulatory enforcement alone.
Nature’s greatest symphony
Against this backdrop, International Dawn Chorus Day offers a timely reminder that not all sound is harmful. Some sounds connect people to nature and provide a sense of calm and wellbeing.
The dawn chorus refers to the wave of bird songs heard in the early hours before and just after sunrise. In many parts of the world, particularly in spring, this natural symphony is especially vibrant as birds sing to establish territories and attract mates after migration. Forests and gardens that were quiet through the night suddenly come alive with sound.
The oriental magpie robin (polkichcha) is a common songster around many home gardens. Pic by Henk Goossens
Although Sri Lanka does not experience spring in the same way, the island has its own remarkable dawn performers. The Asian koel, or the “koha,” is among the most familiar, its melodic call echoing through villages and even urban gardens during the breeding season. The oriental magpie robin adds rich, varied notes, while bulbuls, babblers, tailorbirds, barbets, and many others gradually join in, transforming even small green spaces into living concert halls.
Experiencing the dawn chorus requires little more than waking early. Around 5 to 5.30 a.m. is often the best time, when human activity is minimal and birds dominate the soundscape. Even a quiet balcony, garden, or roadside tree canopy can offer this experience.
In Sri Lanka, the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) marks the occasion each year with organised dawn chorus events. One such programme is held at Dombagaskanda, a rare forest patch near Colombo, where participants gather before sunrise to listen, observe bird behaviour, and learn about the importance of conserving urban green spaces.
The contrast between these two observances carries a deeper lesson. As human-made noise continues to grow louder, many people are becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural sounds that once shaped daily life. The dawn chorus reminds us that silence is not the absence of sound, but the presence of meaningful sound — wind through trees, insects at work, and birds greeting the first light of day.
In a rapidly urbanising island where noise increasingly dominates public life, taking a moment to listen to birdsong can be a simple yet powerful act: one that restores calm, reconnects us with nature, and helps us rediscover the fragile soundscapes still surviving around us.
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