Dry weather linked to El Niño affects over 154,000 people in Sri Lanka

Dry weather associated with El Niño has affected 154,167 people from 47,368 families across eight districts in Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre said.

The Centre said 36 Divisional Secretariat divisions had been affected by the prevailing dry conditions.

Authorities are distributing drinking water in 35 divisions, reaching 132,748 people from 40,945 families.

Monaragala has received the largest volume of assistance, with drinking water supplied to 42,429 people from 13,139 families across eight Divisional Secretariat divisions.

In Batticaloa, authorities are supplying water to 33,394 people from 11,142 families in eight divisions.

A further 12,047 people from 3,794 families in three Divisional Secretariat divisions in Ampara are also receiving drinking water.

The Disaster Management Centre said relief operations would continue in affected areas.