Sri Lanka faces 63% probability of strong El Niño event – officials

Based on the current assessment of the El Niño situation, there is a 63% probability of a strong El Niño event in Sri Lanka and a 33% probability of a weak event, according to officials.This was revealed when the Special Cabinet Subcommittee and the Officials' Committee, appointed to take the necessary measures to address the potential impacts of the forthcoming El Niño climate phenomenon, held the inaugural meeting at the Presidential Secretariat.The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.The Special Cabinet Subcommittee and the Officials' Committee were named by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to formulate the necessary short, medium and long-term plans to ensure food security, water management and energy conservation. The Committees are also tasked with ensuring effective coordination among all government institutions, facilitating integrated operations and taking prompt action to minimise disaster risks through public awareness initiatives.The Cabinet Subcommittee comprises the following Ministers:K. D. Lal Kantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and IrrigationSamantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Plantation and Community InfrastructureAnura Karunathilaka, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of EnergyWasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Susil Ranasinghe, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water SupplyDuring the meeting, letters of appointment were also presented to the members of the Officials' Committee.During the meeting it was revealed that, based on the current assessment of the El Niño situation, there is a 63% probability of a strong El Niño event in Sri Lanka. In light of this, particular attention should be directed towards drinking water, irrigation and energy supplies.As global El Niño conditions are expected to result in varying levels of drought or reduced rainfall in Sri Lanka, the relevant ministries and departments were instructed to prepare, within two weeks, a comprehensive action plan outlining the measures required to respond effectively to all possible scenarios, the PMD said.It was also decided that, instead of issuing differing interpretations of the El Niño situation, official statements on the matter would be released solely by the Department of Meteorology.Among those present at the meeting were Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary and Convener of the Special Cabinet Subcommittee, Chairman of the Officials' Committee and Chief of Staff to the President.; Anjali Kumaratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment; D.P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation; K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development; Engineer Kumudulal Bogahawatta, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply; together with officials from the relevant ministries and departments.