El Niño dry spell hits 115,000 in Lanka

More than 115,000 people in seven districts have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions attributed to the El Niño weather pattern, according to the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC).

The NDRSC said yesterday (5) that 115,534 people from 34,608 families across 35 Divisional Secretariat Divisions had been affected, with drinking water distribution already under way in 34 divisions for 113,354 people.

Monaragala has recorded the highest impact, with 41,360 people from 12,732 families in eight Divisional Secretariat Divisions affected by the dry conditions.

In Batticaloa, drinking water is being supplied to 33,394 people in eight Divisional Secretariat Divisions, while 20,418 people in 10 divisions in Badulla and 11,995 people in three divisions in Ampara are receiving water.

In Polonnaruwa, 5,562 of the 6,842 affected people are being provided with drinking water, while in Ratnapura, water is being supplied to 474 of the 1,374 affected people.

Anuradhapura has reported 151 affected people from 30 families in one Divisional Secretariat Division, with arrangements made to provide drinking water to all those affected.

Disaster management authorities are continuing to coordinate relief operations and maintain uninterrupted drinking water supplies to communities affected by the dry weather.