Ongoing El Niño-related dry weather has affected more than 84,000 people across seven districts, with Monaragala reporting the highest number of impacted residents. Authorities have initiated water distribution efforts to assist those facing shortages.
The Disaster Management Centre has reported that prevailing El Niño conditions have impacted 84,545 people spread across seven districts in Sri Lanka. The eastern and central regions have been particularly hard hit, with Monaragala District experiencing the most severe effects, affecting 11,074 residents. Batticaloa and Ampara districts have also reported significant impacts, with 9,547 and 2,823 people affected respectively.
Water scarcity has emerged as a primary concern in several divisional secretariat areas across Badulla, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, and Ratnapura districts. In response to the crisis, the Disaster Management Centre has undertaken measures to supply drinking water to 75,734 of the affected population, indicating that emergency provisions are being prioritized for those most vulnerable to the drought conditions.
The Department of Meteorology has issued advisories regarding elevated heat indices across multiple regions. According to meteorological data, the temperature felt by the human body has reached levels warranting caution in the Eastern Province, as well as in Polonnaruwa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Monaragala districts. These conditions underscore the broader climate pressures facing Sri Lanka as El Niño patterns persist across the island.
