Nearly 8,000 acres of cultivated land have been damaged by ongoing dry weather conditions across multiple districts, impacting approximately 7,000 farmers according to the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board.
The prevailing drought has caused substantial agricultural losses across Sri Lanka, with the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board reporting damage to nearly 8,000 acres of farmland. The affected areas span several districts, with crop destruction confirmed in Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, and Puttalam, according to Board Chairman Pemasiri Jasingarachchi.
Current efforts focus on assessing the full scope of the damage. Inspections and evaluations of affected farmlands are underway to establish the precise extent of crop losses and determine compensation eligibility. The assessment phase is critical for determining which farmers will receive relief payments.
To address the situation, the government has set aside Rs. 3 billion for crop-damage compensation. According to the Board Chairman, affected farmers are expected to receive compensation before the end of the current cultivation season, contingent upon completion of the damage assessments. Officials indicated that compensation will be processed once the evaluations are finalized.
