Sri Lanka: Drought - Aug 2023

Drought-like conditions are affecting various locations in Sri Lanka as a result of below-average rainfall in the first half of 2023 and water shortages in reservoirs. According to the latest update from the National Disaster Relief Service Centre (NDRSC), nearly 150,000 people across 10 districts lack safe drinking water. Jaffna, Ampara, and Batticaloa are the hardest hit, accounting for 85% of the affected population. The cultivation of around 50,000 farmers was also affected due to a lack of irrigation water in reservoirs. Farmers in the southwest have been protesting for weeks, demanding water for crops. The local authorities are distributing drinking water to 128,431 people in the affected districts. (ECHO, 9 Aug 2023)

Despite a revival of the Southwest Monsoon forecast several provinces including northern, north-central, and eastern provinces are recording normal to below average rainfall received from August to October. Short-term forecast till 12th September shows a reduction of rainfall including northern, north-central, and eastern provinces. However, the western, southern and central parts of the country will significant rainfall 7 days. With the significant reduction in rainfall in 25 out of 25 districts last month, fears of drought have been raised in many parts of the island. Standardize Precipitation Index (SPI) 3-month for August 2023 explains the drier condition in the entire country and the dry spell has become more than 15 days in Uva, Eastern, North Central, North and Northwestern provinces of the country. Vegetation conditions in reference to 16th July to 15th August 2023 are poor condition in most of the provinces in the entire country. (IWMI, 6 Sep 2023)