Sri Lanka, April 17 -- The use of firecrackers is a common sight during the festive period. Consultant Ophthalmologist and Director of the National Eye Hospital in Colombo, Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, recently issued a strong warning to the public regarding the dangers posed by substandard firecrackers currently available in the market. These low-quality products can lead to severe injuries, particularly to the eyes.
Dr. Bandara advised the public to exercise caution by wearing protective eyewear while handling firecrackers and to keep a bucket of water or sand nearby as a precautionary measure in case of a fire. In my view, it is time to reconsider the practice of lighting firecrackers altogether. There has been a noticeable increase in eye in...