The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has warned that even distributing purified seawater to meet drinking water needs may become necessary if the forecasted El Niño anomaly impacts Sri Lanka as predicted.
At a media briefing on Wednesday (10), Additional Secretary K.G.B. Dharmatilaka said the expected El Niño condition could be severe at an unprecedented level, posing risks of depletion of the country’s main water sources.
He stressed the urgent need for preparedness, noting that the National Disaster Services Centre has only a limited number of water bowsers available for emergency distribution.
Dharmatilaka cautioned that existing resources may be insufficient if prolonged drought sets in. “This El Niño condition could dry up water sources, leaving no sources to obtain water. I think we may even have to consider purifying and distributing seawater,” he added.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Meteorological Agency has already warned of the possibility of the strongest El Niño condition in a decade. #
Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology has also said the country could face drought conditions in July-August as a result, with rainfall expected to decline sharply.
Officials said there could be issues related to the supply of drinking water and agricultural activities.
“However, an increase in rainfall could be expected in October and November. There is a possibility of tornadoes and heavy rains. Then again, we can expect warm weather from January to April,” they said.
El Niño, a natural phenomenon caused by higher‑than‑normal sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, disrupts global weather patterns and often reduces rainfall in regions such as Sri Lanka, India, and Australia, leading to severe droughts. (Newswire)
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