Sri Lanka's water supply minister has ruled out water cuts for the next three months, citing adequate reservoir levels even as forecasters predict reduced rainfall due to El Niño conditions.
The Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Susil Ranasinghe, has assured the public that water supply will remain uninterrupted over the coming three months despite meteorological forecasts predicting below-average rainfall during August and September. The minister attributed this confidence to current storage levels in the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs, which he said are sufficient to sustain supply even under zero-rainfall conditions.
According to the minister, assessments by technical experts at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board have confirmed that existing water reserves provide adequate coverage for the projected period. Ranasinghe stated that no decision regarding water restrictions has been made, and authorities do not foresee immediate supply risks over the next two months. He emphasized that the current water situation remains stable despite the El Niño phenomenon's expected impact on precipitation levels.
However, the minister acknowledged that circumstances could shift based on actual weather patterns and rainfall outcomes. While the outlook remains positive for the near term, the statement implies that longer-term assessments may depend on whether rainfall deviates from current forecasts or whether the El Niño effect proves more or less severe than anticipated.
