Sri Lanka - Drinking water crisis (DG ECHO, DMC, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 23 March 2020)

According to Disaster Management Centre, over 337,000 people across 8 out of 25 Sri Lankan districts are facing a water crisis due to the dry spell and sea water intrusion into surface water.

Kalutara, Kegalle and Ratnapura districts are the most affected. The local authorities are addressing the crisis through tankering, installing water purification plant and water tanks in the affected areas.

The seasonal climate outlook for March - May, issued by the Department of Meteorology on 4 March, indicates a continuation of the dry spell in March and April but the south-west monsoon, starting in May, is likely to improve the current situation.