The government has announced compensation of Rs. 100,000 per hectare for approximately 7,000 farmers whose crops have been damaged by prolonged dry weather conditions affecting nearly 8,000 acres of farmland across multiple districts.
Sri Lanka is facing significant agricultural losses due to extreme dry weather, with approximately 8,000 acres of farmland damaged across the country, according to Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The affected crops include paddy, maize, big onions, potatoes, soya, and chillies cultivated by around 7,000 farmers in drought-affected regions.
To address the crisis, the government has allocated Rs. 3 billion in its first phase of an expedited compensation programme. Farmers will receive Rs. 100,000 per hectare, with payments capped at five acres per farmer. The compensation scheme applies only to the specified crop types that have suffered documented losses.
The drought has impacted multiple districts unevenly. Anuradhapura District has recorded the most severe damage with 1,923 acres affected, followed by Monaragala with 1,421 acres, Polonnaruwa with 1,259 acres, Ampara with 1,055 acres, and Hambantota with 783 acres. Government officials have already conducted assessments to identify affected agricultural lands in these regions.
Farmers seeking compensation have been instructed to report their crop damage to the Agricultural Research and Production Assistant at their nearest Department of Agrarian Development office, or to development and field officers of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board. The government emphasised that affected farmers must complete this reporting process to qualify for the compensation scheme.