Tuesday, September 8, 2026 - More than 115,000 people in Sri Lanka are now affected by a severe water shortage as an extended dry spell worsens across the country.
Authorities are supplying drinking water to more than 113,000 people from tens of thousands of families as rainfall remains far below normal in several regions. The crisis is putting growing pressure on households, farms and local water supplies, with some communities forced to wait days or even weeks for deliveries.
The drought is also hitting agriculture hard, with wells, rivers and reservoirs shrinking rapidly in some of the worst-affected areas. Farmers are reporting crop losses and falling incomes as water becomes increasingly difficult to secure for both households and livestock.
Officials have warned that the emerging El Niño pattern could bring even more difficult conditions, while the country's already severe dry spell is being compounded by extreme heat and limited rainfall.
The worsening shortage is now affecting more than just communities and agriculture. Wildlife authorities have begun taking emergency measures at Yala National Park, where shrinking water sources and heat stress have forced officials to restrict access to some of the park's busiest areas and bring in water by tanker.
With tens of thousands already dependent on emergency supplies, pressure is mounting on authorities to expand water deliveries and prepare for potentially tougher conditions in the months ahead.
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