Prolonged dry conditions have created severe drinking water shortages in several Sri Lankan districts, forcing residents to travel kilometres daily to collect water while authorities implement emergency relief measures.
Residents of Kolakanawadiya village in Polonnaruwa district now organize their daily routines around water collection rather than work or household responsibilities. With tap lines no longer functioning and traditional wells dried up, families travel between one and three kilometres by bicycle each morning and evening to gather enough water for basic needs. The water scarcity has affected sanitation, hygiene and food preparation, with some residents reporting insufficient water even for toilet use.
According to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the most severe impacts are concentrated in Batticaloa and Monaragala districts, particularly in areas lacking piped water infrastructure. The Board has begun rehabilitating approximately 65 tube wells in Monaragala District to restore groundwater access. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's national water production capacity remains at approximately 2.8 million cubic metres daily, though storage levels reveal the strain of extended dry weather. Irrigation Department reservoirs currently operate at 30 to 35 percent capacity, while Mahaweli Development Authority reservoirs maintain 50 to 55 percent levels.
Contrary to conditions in affected areas, the Western Province—which accounts for more than half of national water board consumption—remains unaffected, with six major sources maintaining adequate reserves. Officials estimate supplies in Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs alone could sustain the region for approximately three additional months. As the agricultural season approaches, water managers are preparing contingency plans, with the Kantale Irrigation Scheme scheduled to begin cultivation on October 10 to ensure efficient water distribution across 24,000 acres of paddy land.