CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PROF. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

World / Asia

Over 115,000 affected as El Niño brings severe dry weather to Sri Lanka

Published: 06 Sep 2026 - 02:00 am | Last Updated: 05 Sep 2026 - 07:28 pm
File photo for representational purposes only.

File photo for representational purposes only.

Xinhua

Colombo: Official reports from Sri Lanka’s National Disaster Relief Services Center indicate that over 115,000 individuals in seven districts are experiencing the consequences of an ongoing dry spell linked to the global El Niño pattern.

The center said 115,534 people have been affected, while authorities are supplying drinking water to 113,354 people from 34,608 families.

Monaragala is the worst-affected district, with 41,360 people from 12,732 families. Authorities are also supplying drinking water to 33,394 people in Batticaloa, 20,418 in Badulla and 11,995 in Ampara.

Disaster management authorities said relief operations and drinking water distribution would continue in affected areas.