Sri Lanka faces dual threats of El Niño drought and heavy rainfall flooding

Sri Lanka is facing extreme weather volatility, experiencing both severe drought and rising flood risks. The El Niño phenomenon has caused a drought affecting over 169,000 people across 10 districts. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports that 51,959 families in 39 divisional secretariat divisions are struggling with inadequate water access.

Simultaneously, intense rainfall in the wet zone has caused river levels to rise rapidly toward flood thresholds. The Irrigation Department is monitoring the Nilwala, Gin, Kalu, Mahaweli, and Kelani rivers, among others. Major flood levels have already been reached in the Mahaweli Ganga near Nawalapitiya, and authorities have issued alerts for residents in several areas, including Peradeniya, Gampola, Kitulgala, and Avissawella, due to the risk of flash flooding and rising water levels.