• 25,563 families affected in 7 Districts
• Defence Ministry Circular issued on continued water supply
• Daily water allocation hiked by 9 to 15 l for drinking, sanitation
• 324 water bowsers deployed

The worsening drought around the country has left 81,605 people from 25,563 families across seven Districts facing the effects of water shortages, prompting the Defence Ministry to issue a circular to ensure uninterrupted and increased water supplies to drought-hit communities.

A circular has been issued to ensure uninterrupted water supplies to areas affected by drought conditions that may arise due to future El Niño phenomena, Environment Minister Dr Dammika Patabendi said yesterday (20). Speaking at a media briefing held to raise awareness of the potential impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on Sri Lanka, he said the circular was issued by the Defence Ministry on 6 August.

According to Dr Patabendi, the circular introduces necessary amendments to existing laws and regulations to facilitate faster and more convenient interventions to provide water facilities to communities in drought-affected areas. The measures are intended to strengthen preparedness and enable the authorities to respond more efficiently to water shortages that could arise from severe drought conditions associated with El Niño. He said the initiative forms part of efforts to prepare Sri Lanka for the potential impacts of future El Niño events and their consequences on water availability.

More than 81,000 people have been affected by the prevailing dry weather conditions linked to the El Niño weather pattern, the National Disaster Relief Services Centre said yesterday.

The Senior Assistant Secretary of the Centre, Prageeth Danansooriya, said that 81,605 people from 25,563 families in 22 Divisional Secretariat areas across seven Districts have been affected. Accordingly, the Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Badulla, Monaragala, Hambantota and Ratnapura Districts have been affected.

Speaking at a media briefing on the El Niño phenomenon and its potential impact on Sri Lanka, Danansooriya said that necessary guidelines had already been issued to District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries to provide relief to the affected communities.

With drinking water shortages worsening in several areas, the Government has increased the daily water allocation for drinking and sanitation purposes from six litres (l) to 15 l per person. A total of 324 water bowsers are currently being deployed to supply water to the affected communities. Additional bowsers belonging to Local Authorities and the Security Forces will be deployed if required, officials said.

A committee comprising the Divisional Secretary, the Medical Officer of Health, the Public Health Inspector and disaster relief officials has been authorised to determine water distribution requirements in each affected area.

Rs. 4.8 billion has been allocated from the national Budget to provide relief for disasters caused by the prevailing dry conditions and possible heavy rainfall that could follow, Danansooriya said.

Residents facing drinking water shortages have been advised to immediately inform their respective Grama Niladhari and seek the necessary assistance.

“If there is a shortage of drivers and assistants, guidelines have been issued to recruit temporary staff as well,” he added.

Danansooriya also noted that these funds would be used to cover necessary services, including the payment of wages for the deployed officials.