The number of people affected by Sri Lanka’s prolonged dry weather has risen to 81,765, drawn from 25,628 families across seven districts, the Disaster Management Centre said on Friday.
Monaragala remains by far the worst-hit district, accounting for 33,023 affected people from 10,264 families — roughly two in every five of those affected nationally. Ampara, Badulla, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and Hambantota make up the rest.
The figure is a sharp escalation from the 68,041 people across four districts reported a week ago, with Badulla, Polonnaruwa and Hambantota added to the list since.
Water distribution widens
Drinking water distribution programmes are running in 20 Divisional Secretariat divisions across the seven districts. The Disaster Management Centre said water has so far reached 72,053 people from 23,048 families.
Briefing reporters on the El Niño pattern a day earlier, the National Disaster Relief Services Centre’s Senior Assistant Secretary, Prageeth Dhanansuriya, said the government had raised the daily allocation for drinking and sanitation from six litres to 15 litres per person, Ada Derana reported. Some 324 water bowsers are in service, with more available from local authorities and the security forces if needed.
Rs. 4.8 billion has been allocated from the national budget for relief. A committee of the Divisional Secretary, Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Inspector and disaster relief officials decides distribution needs in each area.
Heat advisories for 10 districts
Separately, the Department of Meteorology issued heat advisories on Friday covering 10 districts, including the Eastern and North Central provinces along with Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Monaragala. The heat index is expected to reach caution level in places during daytime. The public has been urged to limit strenuous activity, stay in shade and drink enough water.
The Met Department has put the likelihood of the current El Niño persisting into the first quarter of next year at 97%.
