SL may face El-Nino effect

Weather experts and Irrigation engineers yesterday expressed concern over the possibility of Sri Lanka experiencing the El-Nino effect in the near future with water levels of most tanks and reservoirs having dropped drastically compelling officials to restrict wa- ter for drinking and agriculture.

Irrigation Department Water Management Director Janaki Meegahatenna said the prevailing dry weather had forced the reduction

in the supply of water for paddy harvesting and other food crops in the North-Central, Eastern and North-Western provinces.

“For instance it had rained only in Colombo, Ratmalana, Ratnapura and Badulla during the past few weeks while the other 25 districts had remained dry. As a result, water levels in irrigation tanks in all districts had reduced drastically,” she said.

Ms. Meegahatenna said the prevailing drought had resulted in reduced water levels at reservoirs and rivers that supplied water for hydro power generation and to treatment plants for drinking water.

Storage levels at Mahaweli reservoirs -- Mausakelle and Rantambe were less than 15% of spill level while other reservoirs such as Kotmale, Polgolla, Victoria, Randenigala, Bowatenna, Castlereagh and Samanalawewa resevoirs had 50 % less water levels.

Irrigation Department officials in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kantale have advised farmers to keep a tight control over the distribution of water from Tis-

We did not receive the expected rains around this time like in the past few years and therefore we have conducted awareness programmes among farmer organisations held water management meetings and project meetings to advice farmers For instance it had rained only in Colombo, Ratmalana, Ratnapura and Badulla during the past few weeks while the other 25 districts had remained dry. As a result, water levels in irrigation tanks in all districts had reduced drastically

saweva, Huruluweva, Kavudullaweva, Mahkanadarawa Weva, Parakrama Smudraya and Kanthaleweva to paddy fields if there was no rain in the next few days.

Ms. Meegahatenna attributed the unexpected dry weather to the ElNino effect and added that farmers in eastern Australia were being told to prepare for less rain later this year with early climate models suggesting a return to the El Nino weather pattern.

“This can happen in Sri Lanka too,” she added. “We did not receive the expected rains around this time like in the past few years and therefore we have conducted awareness programmes among farmer organisations, held water management meetings and project meetings to advice farmers to use water sparingly. While taking all these frugal measures to save water we also have to direct our attention to release enough water to paddy fields.”

The countrywide drought has also affected the water treatment plants that supply drinking water to urban areas like Colombo in particular.

Water Supply and Drainage Ministry Secretary A. Abeygunasekara said the dry weather had affected all treatment plants in the country and if the drought situation continued, the National Water supply and Drainage Board would have no other option but to restrict the supply of drinking water.

The water level in the Kelani River that supplies the bulk of drinking water to Colombo had dropped drastically and sea water had flowed upstream to the point where the Kelani Rajamaha Viharaya is located. The situation is serious,” he said.