A man walks across a dried-up lake in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Sept. 4, 2026. More than 115,000 people in seven districts of Sri Lanka have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions linked to the El Nino weather pattern, the National Disaster Relief Services Center said Saturday. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/Xinhua)
COLOMBO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 115,000 people in seven districts of Sri Lanka have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions linked to the El Nino weather pattern, the National Disaster Relief Services Center said Saturday.
The center said 115,534 people have been affected, while authorities are supplying drinking water to 113,354 people from 34,608 families.
Monaragala is the worst-affected district, with 41,360 people from 12,732 families. Authorities are also supplying drinking water to 33,394 people in Batticaloa, 20,418 in Badulla and 11,995 in Ampara.
Disaster management authorities said relief operations and drinking water distribution would continue in affected areas. ■
The cracked bed of a dried-up lake is seen in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Sept. 5, 2026. More than 115,000 people in seven districts of Sri Lanka have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions linked to the El Nino weather pattern, the National Disaster Relief Services Center said Saturday. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/Xinhua)
A dried-up river is seen in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Sept. 6, 2026. More than 115,000 people in seven districts of Sri Lanka have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions linked to the El Nino weather pattern, the National Disaster Relief Services Center said Saturday. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/Xinhua)
Herons try to forage in a lake that is about to dry up in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Sept. 3, 2026. More than 115,000 people in seven districts of Sri Lanka have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions linked to the El Nino weather pattern, the National Disaster Relief Services Center said Saturday. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/Xinhua)
Buffalos are pictured in a lake that is about to dry up in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Sept. 4, 2026. More than 115,000 people in seven districts of Sri Lanka have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions linked to the El Nino weather pattern, the National Disaster Relief Services Center said Saturday. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/Xinhua)
