Over 115,000 people in Sri Lanka are facing drinking water shortages as an emerging El Nino condition, coupled with high temperatures and scant rainfall, intensified dry weather across parts of the island, officials said on Tuesday.
El Nino, a periodic warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, can alter temperature patterns across the region. Its development is being closely monitored for its possible impact on Sri Lanka as the dry spell continues. 115,586 people have been affected by the El Nino weather pattern across seven of Sri Lanka’s 25 administrative districts, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).
Meteorology Department Director General Ajith Wijemanna said an El Nino condition was developing and could be contributing to the prevailing weather pattern. The severe heat and lack of rainfall have affected many areas, creating serious challenges for the availability of water, it said in a press release. Wijemanna said some rainfall could be expected from the end of September, raising hopes of relief from the prevailing conditions.
