Sri Lanka is grappling with severe drought conditions exacerbated by El Niño weather patterns, with the sun positioned directly overhead through early September and water reserves depleting across multiple districts.
Sri Lanka is confronting escalating drought conditions as meteorological and disaster management authorities report widespread impact across the country. The Department of Meteorology announced that from today through September 7, the sun will pass directly overhead at various points across the island, a biannual occurrence that contributes to elevated temperatures. At 12:11 p.m. today, the solar zenith will reach locations including Kokkuvil and Nallur in the Northern Province. This astronomical positioning coincides with dangerous heat levels, prompting meteorologists to issue warnings for eight districts where the heat index—measuring perceived temperature—remains at concerning levels.
The Disaster Management Centre reports that El Niño conditions have affected 84,545 people across seven districts. Monaragala has emerged as the worst-affected area with 35,639 impacted residents, followed by Batticaloa with 28,523 individuals and Ampara with 8,847. Additional communities in Badulla, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota and Ratnapura face acute water shortages. Emergency water distribution has reached 75,734 affected individuals, signalling the strain on national water infrastructure.
Reservoirs across multiple provinces have reached critically low levels. The Kantale Reservoir in Trincomalee, a primary drinking water source for five municipalities, has fallen to 30.2 percent capacity, with catchment areas and natural water sources substantially depleted. In the North Central Province, key reservoirs including Doramadalawa Wewa and Kuda Oyamaduwa Wewa in Anuradhapura have either dried up completely or declined sharply. Agricultural communities and dairy farmers report mounting difficulties as water and fodder supplies diminish, forcing livestock to travel greater distances for water.
Authorities have urged residents in affected regions to limit heat exposure, maintain hydration, and exercise caution regarding vulnerable populations including children and the elderly. The unfolding situation underscores the compounding effects of extreme heat, water scarcity and agricultural stress on both livelihoods and ecosystems across the nation.
