The National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) states that a total of 115,534 individuals across 35 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in seven districts in Sri Lanka have been affected by the prevailing dry weather conditions attributed to the El Niño weather pattern.

According to reports issued today (05), drinking water distribution operations are currently underway for 113,354 individuals belonging to 34,608 families across 34 Divisional Secretariat Divisions.

Monaragala District has been the most severely affected, with 41,360 individuals from 12,732 families across eight Divisional Secretariat Divisions affected by the dry weather conditions.

Meanwhile, drinking water is being supplied to 33,394 individuals in eight Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Batticaloa District, 20,418 individuals in 10 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Badulla District, and 11,995 individuals in three Divisional Secretariat Divisions in Ampara District.

Furthermore, in Polonnaruwa District, drinking water is being distributed to 5,562 of the 6,842 individuals affected by the prevailing dry weather conditions. In Ratnapura District, 474 of the 1,374 affected individuals are also receiving drinking water.

In Anuradhapura District, 151 individuals from 30 families in one Divisional Secretariat Division have been affected, and arrangements have been made to provide drinking water to all those affected.

Disaster management authorities are continuing to coordinate relief efforts and ensure the uninterrupted supply of drinking water to affected people in the respective areas.