The El Niño weather phenomenon has intensified and its peak could arrive earlier than previously forecast in Sri Lanka, Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi has warned.
The minister said the strengthening pattern raises the risk of both severe drought and bouts of heavy, unpredictable rainfall in the months ahead, according to Ada Derana. El Niño typically disrupts Sri Lanka’s monsoon cycle, threatening water supplies, hydropower generation and agricultural output.
In response, the government is advancing the Maha cultivation season to safeguard food security against the erratic rainfall expected later this year, Daily Mirror reported. Bringing the season forward is intended to give farmers a better chance of establishing crops before the most disruptive weather sets in.
Authorities have previously cautioned that El Niño conditions can strain reservoir levels and irrigation schedules, while sudden downpours heighten the risk of flooding and landslides in vulnerable districts. Officials are expected to coordinate with the Department of Meteorology, the irrigation authorities and agrarian services to manage water allocation and planting schedules.
The warning comes as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the aftermath of recent extreme-weather events, underscoring the growing pressure that climate variability places on the country’s farming communities and food supply. The public has been urged to remain alert to official advisories as the situation develops.
