Posted by Onlanka Information on August 21, 2026 – 7:24 pm
Sri Lanka is making ready for extreme dry climate anticipated throughout the nation from February to April 2027, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reviewing plans to guard water provides, agriculture, electrical energy technology and meals safety.
A gathering of the Particular Cupboard Sub-Committee and Officers’ Committee appointed to deal with the impacts of the El Nino local weather phenomenon was held right now (August 21) on the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo beneath the patronage of President Dissanayake.
The President reviewed the challenges arising from the present El Nino situations, the progress of measures already taken and preparations to make sure enough water for consuming and different home wants, in addition to agricultural actions.
Officers from the Ministry of Agriculture mentioned crop losses had remained comparatively low throughout the earlier Yala season because of advance preparations and well timed cultivation. Measures had additionally been taken to satisfy the consuming water necessities of the general public.
In line with forecasts issued by the Division of Meteorology, extreme dry climate is anticipated to have an effect on your complete nation throughout February, March and April subsequent yr.
The President reviewed the doable affect on agriculture, plantation industries, freshwater fisheries, water provide and electrical energy technology, along with plans being ready to deal with these challenges.
He harassed the necessity to make sure the uninterrupted provide of important items and providers throughout the interval which may be affected by dry situations.
The President additionally instructed officers to arrange programmes, in coordination with catastrophe administration authorities, to assist folks affected by the opposed situations till their livelihoods and financial actions recuperate.
Present water ranges in main reservoirs, measures to keep up consuming water provides, preparations to supply water for agriculture, future cultivation plans and steps to guard nationwide meals safety had been additionally reviewed.
The President referred to as for a complete database containing correct data on the proportion of shoppers equipped by main reservoirs, minor irrigation schemes and small tanks.
He additionally harassed the necessity to establish prematurely the areas most susceptible to extended dry situations.
If water restrictions develop into mandatory, officers had been instructed to not wait till reservoirs are fully depleted. As a substitute, they need to interact with affected communities and set up an orderly and systematic programme prematurely.
President Dissanayake additionally referred to as for areas the place tanks, rivers and streams might fully dry as much as be recognized and the related dangers mapped prematurely.
He famous that individuals dwelling in such areas would require water not just for consuming but in addition for different important day by day wants.
The assembly additionally mentioned the potential of authorising Divisional Secretaries to rearrange the cleansing and rehabilitation of water sources which have develop into unusable.
With the primary rains anticipated in October, plans are being made to make use of rainwater to start making ready agricultural land relatively than ready for water to be launched from reservoirs.
The President harassed that the Irrigation Division and the Mahaweli Authority ought to work in keeping with a coordinated plan on this regard.
Preparations to make sure the provision of seed paddy and fertiliser for the upcoming Maha season had been additionally reviewed.
The assembly mentioned the doable affect of El Nino situations on the freshwater fisheries sector and fish manufacturing, in addition to measures that may very well be taken prematurely.
The President instructed officers to arrange programmes to assist affected fishing communities till their livelihoods are restored.
The doable affect on the plantation sector and measures being ready to deal with the challenges had been additionally mentioned, together with steps to make sure enough water provides for wildlife in protected areas.
The President additional harassed the necessity to expedite the rehabilitation of irrigation techniques in order that most water storage capability might be secured throughout the rainfall anticipated from October onwards.
Plans had been additionally mentioned to keep up a strategically deliberate reserve of electrical energy technology capability above regular necessities. The measure is meant to make sure an uninterrupted energy provide all through this yr and deal with doable power dangers brought on by depleted reservoirs throughout the February-April interval subsequent yr.
Minister of Surroundings Dr. Dammika Patabendi, Minister of Housing, Building and Water Provide Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, Minister of Power and Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka, Chief of Workers to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Senior Further Secretary to the President Russell Aponso, Secretary to the Ministry of Surroundings Ok.R. Uduwawala, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce, Commerce, Meals Safety and Cooperative Growth Ok.A. Vimalenthirarajah, Director Common of Irrigation Engineer Ok. Weligepolage, Director Common of the Division of Meteorology A.L.Ok. Wijemannage, Director Common of the Catastrophe Administration Centre Main Common Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retired), and members of the related committees attended the assembly.
