August 11, Colombo (LNW): Farmers and rural communities across Sri Lanka’s Northern, North Central, Eastern and Uva Provinces are continuing to struggle as dry weather and dwindling water supplies place increasing pressure on agriculture.
Residents in several affected areas say the shortage of water is making it increasingly difficult to maintain their crops and carry out routine farming activities. Many farmers are facing growing uncertainty over the survival of their cultivations as available water sources continue to decline.
The situation has become particularly serious in the Polonnaruwa District, where paddy fields are showing signs of extensive damage amid the persistent drought. Farmers fear that further deterioration in weather conditions could result in heavier losses and affect the next stages of cultivation.
Agricultural communities in Anuradhapura are also reporting severe crop damage, with insufficient water leaving many cultivations unable to withstand the prolonged dry spell.
The lack of substantial rainfall has heightened concerns among farming communities already dependent on irrigation reservoirs and other local water sources. Farmers say continued dry conditions could further reduce yields and place additional financial strain on households reliant on agriculture.
According to the Department of Meteorology, however, the affected regions are unlikely to receive significant rainfall in the immediate future, with more substantial showers not expected until around October or November.
Until then, communities in the drought-hit areas are likely to remain under pressure as they cope with limited water supplies and the mounting impact on agricultural production.