World · Singapore Bureau
Sri Lanka's worst drought in decades forces farmers to abandon wells
An El Niño-driven drought is decimating Sri Lanka's agricultural sector, with farmers reporting critically low water levels and plummeting incomes. The crisis marks the nation's most severe dry spell in more than 30 years.
LSN Singapore ·
GALWELA YAYA, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan farmer A.M. Pathmasena has witnessed a troubling transformation on his land. For the first time in over three decades, his well has depleted to alarming levels, now providing barely enough water for his family and livestock. His predicament reflects a broader catastrophe unfolding across the island nation as one of the worst El Niño-driven droughts in recent history takes hold.
The meteorological phenomenon has triggered a water crisis with far-reaching consequences for Sri Lanka's agricultural heartland. Farmers across affected regions are grappling with parched soil and failing water sources, forcing many to make difficult decisions about crop cultivation and animal husbandry. The situation has deteriorated as the dry season persists longer than anticipated, exhausting traditional water reserves.
The drought's economic impact compounds the environmental crisis. With wells running dry and irrigation severely constrained, farm incomes have contracted sharply. Agricultural communities that depend on consistent water access for sustenance and commerce now face mounting financial pressure as productivity collapses.
The El Niño-induced drought underscores Sri Lanka's vulnerability to climate variability and the urgent need for enhanced water management infrastructure. Authorities have yet to announce comprehensive relief measures as the crisis deepens across rural communities.