MORE THAN 200,000 DROUGHT- STRICKEN PEOPLE IN PUTTALAM DISTRICT

More than 216,670 people from 66,648 families in the Puttalam District had been facing hardship due to the prevailing drought that had caused much havoc and destroyed crops. Asst. Director. District Dissaster Management Unit Col. P.a.j.rodrigo said.

He said that all tanks, rivers, canals and garden-wells had run dry due to the drought experienced for the last three years.

The official pointed out that 269 Grama Niladhari areas in the Navagattegama, Karuwalagaswewa, Pallama, Anamaduwa, Mahakumbukkadawala, Puttalam, Wanathawilluwa, Chilaw, Mundalama, Arachchikattuwa, and Madampe divisions were the worst affected.

District Agrarian Services Commissioner Nayana Priyadarshani Buddhadasa said that very little water had been left in the Inginimitiya, and Thabbowa Tanks while all minor tanks and irrigation canals had run dry totally. Representatives of the agrarian societies in the area pointed out that paddy cultivation had been ruined and more than 7,000 farmers were left without means even to feed their families.

However Puttlam Govt. Agent N.m.n.chitrananda said step would be taken soon to provide dry ration and drought relief to the affected families. “We have sought the approval to pay drought relief to all those affected, but the government has instructed to pay only to the farmers who faced crop devastation for three seasons and the families receiving a monthly income of less than Rs. 20,000, which had created a problem,” the GA said.