💧 Govt. Considers Desalinated Seawater Amid Severe El Niño Threat

Sri Lanka may be forced to purify and distribute seawater for drinking if an anticipated severe El Niño event triggers prolonged drought and depletes freshwater resources, disaster management authorities warned. • Water Security & Emergency Response: The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) cautioned that prolonged dry weather could dry up traditional water sources. The National Disaster Relief Services Centre currently faces a limited fleet of water bowsers, which may prove inadequate for large-scale, simultaneous shortages across multiple districts. • Agricultural & Economic Impact: Below-normal rainfall threatens agriculture and food security, as the sector remains heavily dependent on rainfall and irrigation reservoirs. • Weather Forecast: The Department of Meteorology forecasts significantly reduced rainfall during July and August 2026. This follows UN meteorological warnings of the strongest El Niño event in nearly a decade. • Contingency Planning: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a high-level meeting with irrigation, Mahaweli, meteorology, and energy sector agencies. Authorities are currently reviewing reservoir management, cultivation schedules, and hydropower generation plans to mitigate risks to food security and power output.