COLOMBO : More than 115,000 people across Sri Lanka are facing drinking water shortages as high temperatures, scarce rainfall and emerging El Nino conditions intensify a prolonged dry spell across parts of the island.
According to Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 115,586 people across seven of the country’s 25 administrative districts have been affected by the prevailing weather conditions.
Meteorology Department Director General Ajith Wijemanna said an El Nino condition was developing and could be contributing to the current weather pattern.
Read More
- Flights resume as UK probes major air traffic failure
- Indian tourists to get visa-free entry to Thailand from September 15
- Several vessels disabled in northern Gulf and Gulf of Oman, UKMTO reports
- Jordan air defences intercept and destroy 18 of 20 ballistic missiles
- US halts Cognizant’s green-card filings amid Trump’s visa fraud crackdown
El Nino is a periodic warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that can alter rainfall and temperature patterns across large parts of the world. Sri Lankan authorities are closely monitoring its development and its potential impact on the island.
DMC official Pragith Danansuriya said around 115,534 people are currently affected by shortages of drinking water, with authorities distributing supplies to affected communities.
The prolonged heat and lack of rainfall have placed increasing pressure on reservoirs and other natural water sources.
In the north-central Anuradhapura district, the water level in the Eruwewa reservoir, which has a capacity of around 3,500 acre-feet, has fallen to approximately 1,000 acre-feet, irrigation officials said.
Water levels have also declined in areas including Matale in central Sri Lanka and Nandikadal in the northeast.
The worsening dry conditions are also taking a toll on wildlife and aquatic life.
Thousands of small fish have been found dead in the Mullaithivu lagoon in northeastern Sri Lanka, with officials attributing the deaths to changes caused by the mixing of seawater and freshwater.
Natural water sources are drying up in several regions, forcing wild animals to move in search of alternative supplies.
Agriculture has also been hit hard, with farmers reporting damage to crops including paddy, coconut, banana and guava because of insufficient water.
The dry spell comes amid wider concerns over a strengthening El Nino weather pattern, with the phenomenon capable of triggering significant shifts in rainfall and temperatures across the region.
Wijemanna said some rainfall could arrive from the end of September, offering hope of relief to communities currently struggling with severe water shortages.
For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.
