Many Regions of the Country Harsher Effects of the DROUGHT – Update 21 Aug 2023

It has been reported by official sources due to the prevailing drought throughout Sri Lanka following regions continuing to receive its  severe effects continually.

With in the Polonnaruwa – Rathmale regions due to it’s Rathmale Historic reservoir being subject to severe drought it has lost almost all of it’s retained water, as a result residence had lost all means available to them to allocate any fresh water other than being depended on water provided through water tankers for the religion. There estimated to be more than 1000 people residing and depended on the water reservoir for daily requirements. The reservoir hasn’t received any rain for the past 4 months consecutively. What is making the situation desperate for the people is that what is remaining of the reservoir is contaminated as a result cannot be used neither for drinking nor for sanitation purposes.

The Kandalama reservoir that possesses capacity of 27318 square acre feet have shrunk to a mere 2000 square acre feet of water capacity ( this is absolutely alarming)

The Ibbankatuwa reservoir which possess a capacity of 9000 square acre feet have shrunk to 1500 square acre feet.

It is in been estimated due to severe drought that within “Walawe” region agricultural Lands amounting for 50000 will likely to be loss indefinitely.

Within the Mahaweli-H regions Farmers are struggling to allocate adequate amounts of water for their cultivated lands. Due to Kala reservoir running at its lowest capacity there is a real possibility of losing harvest from 60000 acres of crops being destroyed.

Some farmer’s groups within the Eppawala region have accused the government of that they process more than adequate reserves of water within the kothmale region and relevant authorities should take necessary steps in providing them with required amounts of water for their farm lands.

Anuradhapura Bindiwewa region’s residents themselves are finding it extremely difficult to allocate necessary fresh water to fulfil their basic daily requirements as well. They claimed water is supplied by tankers throughout the region and being provided at a rate of one liter of water costs around 3 rupees.

Meanwhile director general for disaster management major general Mr. Sudantha Ranasinghe had stated over 100 Water tankers had been deployed through the country to provide essential freshwater needs within the affected regions.

It has been further revealed allocating an adequate amount of fresh water for wild animals existing throughout national wildlife parks themselves has become a struggle for wildlife authorities. The Udawalawe National park has been particularly affected. Where authorities are forced to take steps by providing essential freshwater for the animals through the use of water tankers within the parks. All the natural water reserves within the parks had lost their water contents due to drought.