Govt. Steps Up Preparations for El Niño Dry Weather Threat 📈

The Sri Lankan government has initiated proactive measures to address the severe dry weather forecasted by the Department of Meteorology for February, March, and April 2027. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reviewed mitigation plans at a Special Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting to minimize economic and livelihood disruptions. • Forecast & Outlook: Department of Meteorology predicts severe dry weather across all provinces during Feb–Apr 2027. • Agriculture: Ensure seed paddy and fertilizer availability for the upcoming Maha season. Instructed farmers to utilize expected October rain for field preparation rather than relying on reservoir releases. Irrigation rehabilitation is being expedited. • Energy & Utilities: Establishing water-management protocols and identifying vulnerable zones for restricted water usage. Strategic power generation reserves will be maintained above normal requirements to offset low hydropower capacity caused by depleted reservoirs. • Plantations & Fisheries: Directives issued to implement safety nets for plantation industries and support measures for affected freshwater fisheries communities. • Food Security: Coordinated disaster response to maintain an uninterrupted supply of essential food items and public utilities.