• Notes insufficient no. of water bowsers for distribution 

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has warned that if the upcoming El Niño climate phenomenon affects Sri Lanka as predicted, it may even be necessary to consider steps such as the desalination of seawater to meet the drinking water requirements in the country. 

Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday (10), DMC Additional Secretary K.G.B. Dharmathilaka said that the expected El Niño  event could be unprecedentedly severe this time, posing a risk of major water sources across the country drying up due to its impact. He stressed the dire need to prepare for the current situation in advance. Dharmathilaka also added that the number of water bowsers available at the National Disaster Relief Services Centre for distributing water in an emergency is limited. 

Commenting further, Dharmathilaka said: “We have never heard of an El Niño situation like this before. We will have to prepare a lot for this. Normally, we supply water to the entire country for a month during the rainy season through the said Services Centre. But, if this El Niño situation occurs, the existing bowsers will not be sufficient to distribute water in large quantities. Water sources may dry up completely, leaving no sources to obtain water. We may also have to consider purifying seawater and distributing it,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (11) to review the potential impacts of the anticipated El Niño phenomenon and the preparedness plans of the relevant institutions to address its effects. During the meeting, attention has been given to the possible impact of El Niño on the country's food security, drinking water supply and energy sector, as well as the immediate measures required to effectively manage these areas. 

Accordingly, instructions have been given to officials to prepare and submit the necessary plans to mitigate any adverse effects and ensure the continued stability of these critical sectors. President Dissanayake emphasised that Sri Lanka successfully managed the challenges arising from Cyclone Ditwah and the conflict situation in the Middle East, and that the country possesses the capacity to effectively address this global challenge as well. He also highlighted that through proper planning and timely implementation, Sri Lanka would be well prepared to respond to any situation that may arise.

The World Meteorological Organisation has already warned of a potentially strong El Niño event in a decade, while the Meteorology Department has indicated the possibility of drought conditions in the country during next month (July) and August. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation is a global climate phenomenon caused by warmer-than-normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, leading to significant changes in weather patterns worldwide. This El Niño event is predicted to cause countries such as Sri Lanka to experience less than normal rainfall and severe drought.