An elderly resident in Hemmathagama, Aranayake looks down a well that has run dry. Pix by Saman Wijeya Bandara
By Anushiya Sathisraja
In twenty three out of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, people are crying out for water, farmlands are parched and indebted farmers are facing long-term financial ruin. The country’s economy will weaken by a percentage point, an international rating agency has warned, while also noting that the debt-laden island’s fiscal deficit target will not be met.
More than a million people are suffering, especially in the main rice-growing districts including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kurunegala.
But the island will not declare a state of emergency because the tourism industry could be affected, Disaster Management Minister, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, told the Sunday Times, adding that relief programmes are continuing, he said.
“5,000 water tanks and 250 tractor mounted bowsers have been requested by the ministry. The Disaster Management Center has ordered 50 tractor mounted bowsers separately, which have been already distributed to Gampaha and Kurunegala districts. We plan to distribute others shortly,’’ he said.
To avert food shortages, 250,000 metric tonnes of rice are being imported, he said.
Colombo will not face a water shortage because of the high levels of water in the Kelani River, but he warned that sea water is flowing into the river.
A report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says 15 per cent of the rice harvest will be lost this year. The overall paddy harvest is likely to be lowest for three years and vegetable prices have increased sharply in the past three months.
Professor Anthony Norbet of the Colombo University’s Department of Geography said efforts should be made to improve the people’s ability to cope with the effects of the drought. He suggests cultivating crops such as kurakkan that requires less water.
Subsistence paddy farmers who depend on minor irrigation, make up the majority of people hit by the drought.
Gradually declining rainfall over the last four years in combination with the lower Maha and Yala harvest of recent years, have left them progressively poorer.
Despite intermittent rains last week, 18 districts are badly affected and worse, including food shortages, are feared.
Disaster Management Centre figures reveal that 303,000 families comprising more than a million people are experiencing an acute water shortage. The Northern Province is the hardest-hit with 411,796 people suffering.
All districts in the North, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Killinochchi and Jaffna are experiencing the severe dry spell; with the most affected being the Jaffna district’s Delft (4,586), Kayts (3,553), Maradankulam Karainagar (10,500), Telippalai (10,172), Chavakachcheri (24,024) and Chankanai (7,445) areas.
The second largest number of people affected are in the Western Province 407,600, while 67,442 are affected in Minuwanagoda. In Divulapitiya, and Katana 61,140 and 27,051 are suffering, respectively.
Sri Lanka relies heavily on seasonal monsoon rains for water. And as a result of poor monsoons over the past two years as well as weak rainfall in the early months of this year, reservoirs, ponds and wells have dried up.
Studies suggest that while there have been alternate dry and wet spells over the past three decades, the frequency of drought years has been increasing.
Weather experts also say there is a need for further study to address this issue since the South Asian region is set to face severe drought spells for the next three decades.
The constant cooling of the atmosphere over Central Asia has been cited as one of the main reasons for frequent drought years in the country, Lalith Chandrapala, the director general of the Department of Meteorology said.
Due to the atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka showery conditions are expected to continue during next few days, particularly today.
Cloudy skies along with showers or thundershowers can be expected at times over Eastern, Northern North Central and Uva provinces and Hambantota district. Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere particularly after 2.00pm.
Fairly heavy showers (of about 75 mm) are also likely at some places. There may be temporary localised strong winds during thundershowers.
